BBC News online 25 November 2008
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/merseyside/7747470.stmThe mother of jailed Liverpool fan Michael Shields is travelling to London to seek the support of the prime minister's wife to secure his freedom.
The 22-year-old is serving a 10-year sentence for the attempted murder of a barman in Bulgaria in 2005, but maintains his innocence.
Marie Shields is being joined by a coach-load of supporters and is due to hand a personal letter to Sarah Brown.
A judicial review of her son's conviction will be held on 4 December.
He was granted the review before senior High Court Judges at a hearing in London after Justice Secretary Jack Straw refused to issue a pardon on his conviction.
The review will challenge his ruling regarding "the power to grant a pardon to repatriated prisoners wrongly convicted in a foreign jurisdiction".
Shields was initially jailed for 15 years in Bulgaria, but was transferred to the UK in 2006.
He is currently serving the remainder of his sentence, which was cut to 10 years on appeal in Bulgaria, at HMP Haverigg in Cumbria.
Plans are also being put in place for fans of Liverpool Football Club to support a campaign to free Michael Shields at the Premier League game against West Ham United on 1 December.
Supporters in the Kop are expected to hold up the cards to spell out Free Michael Shields.
