Shields blames ‘failed’ legal systems
By Alex Stevenson
Michael Shields’ life was “shattered” by what he called the “failure” of the British legal system, he has claimed.
A statement from the 22-year-old on the day he was given a free pardon by justice secretary Jack Straw revealed his frustrations with the length of time it took for him to be freed.
Campaigners insisting he was innocent had to win a judicial review establishing the justice secretary had jurisdiction for a conviction which had taken place in Bulgaria.
Speaking at a press conference this afternoon, his lawyer Pete Wetherby said: “It’s very regrettable it’s taken four years and three months of Michael’s life to reach the position where we are today.
“This isn’t a case which hasn’t been without difficulty for Jack Straw. It’s regrettable we had to go off to the high court to establish he had jurisdiction at all. It’s regrettable some of the justifications took so long. It would be churlish of us to go further than that.”
Mr Shields’ statement went further. He said: “The last four years have been the hardest four years of my life. They have been a living hell.”
The family had obtained a confession from another man in which he admitted to the crime for which Mr Shields had been convicted.
Earlier today Mr Straw said discrepancies contained in the confession placed its reliability in doubt. Questions remain unanswered about why it took so long for corroborative evidence to be presented to him last month.
“Of course I’m delighted,” the justice secretary said.
“I have no interest in keeping somebody who’s innocent in jail. I’ve agonised over this case. I’ve agonised about it and worried about it.”
Mr Shields’ legal team appeared reluctant to openly criticise the justice secretary. The man himself confined himself to a brief statement in which he thanks Liverpool fans for their support.
He said: “Thanks to you I knew I would never walk alone.”
