UK Justice Secretary, Jack Straw refused Thursday to pardon Liverpool fan Michael Shields, who was sentenced to 15 years in 2005 for the attempted murder of barman in Bulgaria.

Straw was unable to conclude that the 22-year-old was ‘morally and technically innocent’, a Ministry of Justice spokesman said.

Shields was sentenced in 2005 by a Bulgarian court after an attack with a rock against Martin Georgiev, who worked in a bar in the Bulgarian seaside city of Varna.  more...