Neal Keeling
21/ 3/2008
AN MP is stepping up the campaign to get a Manchester United fan released from jail in Italy.
Michael Burk, of Little Hulton, Salford, is one of four Reds fans imprisoned there.
Mr Burk is due to appeal against his sentence and conviction in May and his MP, Barbara Keeley, is pushing to secure his release.
She said she is `very concerned' about his treatment by the Italian legal system.
The four fans were arrested in December after being caught up in violent clashes before a Champions League game between Manchester United and Roma.
Mr Burk, 35, a builder, was sentenced to two years and five months of which he has now served three months.
At his trial he was found guilty of violent behaviour and resisting arrest.
Mr Burk denies being involved with the violence and he claims that he and other fans were beaten by Italian police during the clashes.
Mrs Keeley said: "It has become clear to me that the men were unfairly represented during their trial as they didn't understand a word of the proceedings. During the first hearing Mr Burk did not even know what the charges against him were.
"The court should have provided an English speaking lawyer or a translator and there was a serious lack of adequate language translation throughout the process. The solicitor appointed by the court was not interested in what the defendants were saying and he seems to have advised them badly.
"It seems there has been a miscarriage of justice and, if there has, I would like to see Mr Burk's conviction overturned."
Mr Burk's appeal hearing is scheduled for May 2. Next month, Manchester United are due to play Roma once again in the quarter finals of the Champions League.
Mrs Keeley hopes that by raising the profile of Michael Burk's case, the freedom of Michael and of the other three fans can be secured.
The other fans included partially sighted Kyle Dillon, 23, from Mottram, Hyde, who was sentenced to two years and six months after facing charges of assault and resisting arrest, which he denies.
The two other fans are Nicholas Lucas, 18, who received an identical sentence and Richard Wimmer, 39, who was given two years and six months.
Further information on the fans and how to show support for them is available on the website, reds4reds.co.uk
Friday 21 March 2008
MP expressed concerns over Italian treatment of United fan
By Saiqa Chaudhari
AN MP has expressed concerns about the treatment of a Manchester United fan imprisoned in Italy.
Worsley MP Barbara Keeley has called into question the trial of her constituent Michael Burk.
He was arrested after being caught in violent clashes before a Champions League game between Manchester United and Roma in December.
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The 35-year-old builder from Little Hulton was sentenced to two years and five months after being found guilty of violent behaviour and resisting arrest. He has now served three months. He is one for four fans serving a prison sentence.
Mr Burk denies the changes and is due to appeal against his sentence and conviction in May.
Mrs Keeley said she felt that the conviction was unsafe.
She said: "They didn't understand a word of the proceedings. During the first hearing Mr Burk did not even know what the charges against him were.
"The court should have provided an English lawyer or a translator and there was a serious lack of adequate language translation throughout the whole process.
"The solicitor appointed by the court was not interested in what the defendants were saying and he seems to have advised them badly .
"It seems there has a been a miscarriage of justice and if there has, I would like to see Mr Burk's conviction overturned.
The other fans are Kyle Dillon, aged 23 from Mottram, Hyde, who received two years and six months; Nicholas Lucas, aged 18, who was given the same sentence and Richard Wimmer, aged 39, who was given two years and six months.
AN MP has expressed concerns about the treatment of a Manchester United fan imprisoned in Italy.
Worsley MP Barbara Keeley has called into question the trial of her constituent Michael Burk.
He was arrested after being caught in violent clashes before a Champions League game between Manchester United and Roma in December.
advertisement
The 35-year-old builder from Little Hulton was sentenced to two years and five months after being found guilty of violent behaviour and resisting arrest. He has now served three months. He is one for four fans serving a prison sentence.
Mr Burk denies the changes and is due to appeal against his sentence and conviction in May.
Mrs Keeley said she felt that the conviction was unsafe.
She said: "They didn't understand a word of the proceedings. During the first hearing Mr Burk did not even know what the charges against him were.
"The court should have provided an English lawyer or a translator and there was a serious lack of adequate language translation throughout the whole process.
"The solicitor appointed by the court was not interested in what the defendants were saying and he seems to have advised them badly .
"It seems there has a been a miscarriage of justice and if there has, I would like to see Mr Burk's conviction overturned.
The other fans are Kyle Dillon, aged 23 from Mottram, Hyde, who received two years and six months; Nicholas Lucas, aged 18, who was given the same sentence and Richard Wimmer, aged 39, who was given two years and six months.
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