Jack Straw refuses Michael Shields' appeal for pardon Justice Secretary Jack Straw today refused an appeal for a pardon by jailed football fan Michael Shields. Shields was jailed for 15 years in Bulgaria in 2005 for the attempted murder of a barman following Liverpool FC's European Cup victory in Turkey. In a provisional decision, Mr Straw was unable to conclude the 22-year-old was "morally and technically innocent", a Ministry of Justice spokesman said. Liverpool city councillor Joe Anderson, who has spearheaded the drive to free the Reds fan, said: "We have only just heard and I am on my way to see Michael's parents to discuss it. "We're still taking in the news." The Ministry of Justice said a High Court judgment in December last year set a "very high" bar for granting what is known as a free pardon. A spokesman said: "Mr... [read full story]
