Family joy as Shields passes lie detector test

Dec 21 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

THE father of jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields last night hailed the result of a lie detector test which his son passed “with flying colours”.

The 21-year-old is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria in 2005.

The test was carried out at Garth Prison in Preston, where Shields is being held. Organised by his lawyers and backed by Liverpool’s Labour group leader, Cllr Joe Anderson, it is a further attempt to clear his name.

Last night, Michael Shields snr said: “Michael has wanted to take this test from day one. I’m made up he passed with flying colours.”

Home Office officials gave permission for the test at the request of Shields' lawyers.

The tests were carried out by British Polygraphers’ Association examiner Don Cargill, who carries out tests for Channel Five's Trisha Goddard show.

Shields’s heart rate, blood pressure, sweating and breathing were monitored as he was questioned and different readings taken based on his responses.

He was asked key questions relating to the attack on Bulgarian waiter Martin Georgiev, which led to Shields’ jailing in the Black Sea resort of Varna. The attack happened following Liverpool’s Champions League win in Istanbul.

Although the result would not be admissible in court in a retrial, campaigners believe it strengthens Shields’s claims.

Liverpool Riverside Labour MP Louise Ellman – who last month called for a judicial investigation into the case – said: “It adds weight to the argument that Michael’s conviction is unsafe.”

Cllr Anderson said he would use the results to try to secure Shields’ release. He said: “This is a significant day for Michael and his family. In the professional opinion of the polygrapher who carried out the test, Michael never carried out any attack.

“That’s good enough for me and I hope it’s good enough for the Government to pardon and release him right away. I'm confident this young man is innocent and shouldn’t be in jail and I’ve said that for two and a half years.”

The results will form part of a dossier that he, Ms Ellman and the Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones, plan to present to foreign secretary David Miliband and justice secretary Jack Straw in January.

alanweston