Judges protest against British pressure

An independent union of Bulgarian judges today protested against British criticism of a Bulgarian trial in which a Liverpool football fan was convicted of attempted murder.

The Bulgarian Union of Judges sent a letter to British Consul Hilary Arthur, and issued a statement saying the reaction of the British media and lawmakers to the case represented “an interference in a court’s work” and “an insult to the dignity of the Bulgarian nation.”

Last week, the district court in the port city of Varna convicted Michael Shields of Liverpool of hitting a 25-year-old Bulgarian with a paving stone during a May 29 brawl. The victim, barman Martin Georgiev, was left with possible brain damage.

The court sentenced the 19-year-old Shields to 15 years in jail, triggering an outcry in Britain where the media accused the Bulgarian court of a miscarriage of justice.

“It must be absolutely clear that the court can never be told how to decide a case,” union leader Neli Kutskova said.

“Convicted Shields was given a fast and just trial before an independent and unbiased court, in conformity with all international standards of human rights protection,” said the statement from the union, which is an independent professional association of judges in Bulgaria.

During the trial, another Briton, 20-year old Graham Sankey, reportedly confessed to the crime in Liverpool, but did not offer a signed statement of guilt, which prevented the court from accepting his admission as evidence.

Georgiev, the victim, told court he remembered his attacker and identified Shields, as did other eyewitnesses, court spokeswoman Elena Bangieva said.

Shields has until August 9 to appeal, and if he does so, the case would be heard by the Varna Court of Appeals within two months, Bangieva said.

Only after Shields was convicted of the assault, Sankey made a signed confession before a Liverpool solicitor, but Bulgarian magistrates expressed doubt this would be enough for the Court of Appeals to overturn the conviction.

“A confession may be motivated by a desire to help the defendant,” said Anton Gerginov, a prosecutor with the Supreme Prosecution office, the highest prosecuting body in Bulgaria.

“The man should come forward to be further interrogated in Bulgaria, because there are discrepancies between his confession and the other evidence on the case.”

Sankey, however, has so far refused to travel to Bulgaria.

During the investigation, Bulgarian police questioned Sankey, who at the time denied any involvement in the assault. He also refused to attend the trial in Varna as a witness.

Shields had been visiting Varna after watching Liverpool win the Champions League cup final in neighbouring Turkey.

Another Briton implicated in the assault, 19-year-old Anthony Wilson, was given a suspended sentence of two and a half years in jail for drug possession.