Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2006-05-16-Speech-2-244"
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"en.20060516.35.2-244"2
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"Commissioner, I have a personal dilemma: I represent a country that is pro-enlargement but a region that is urging me to vote against Bulgarian membership. Why? Because my constituent, Michael Shields, is serving a ten-year sentence for a violent attack of which he continues to maintain he is innocent.
The Bulgarian criminal justice system has not given Michael a fair trial. His only recourse is to take his case to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg. When new defence evidence came forward, it was ignored by the Bulgarian authorities; when another Liverpool man confessed to the crime, it was disregarded by the Bulgarians. I urge the Bulgarian authorities to restore our faith in their criminal justice system.
I urge the Commissioner to ask the authorities to take up the offer of assistance by the UK to interview witnesses and examine pre- and post-trial evidence that was rejected in his appeal. Any EU Member States, including mine, can make mistakes. The true test of a democracy is the will to redress any potential wrongs and ensure that real justice is served.
Commissioner, I will send you a copy of this independent documentary, which shows that my constituent did not have a fair trial and that there was a severe problem with the police investigation."@en1
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