By Staff Reporter
FOUR Manchester United football fans have been released from an Italian jail after an appeal hearing in Rome.
Among them was Michael Burk, aged 35, from Little Hulton, who was sentenced to two years and five months in prison last December following fights between rival supporters before the Champions League game with Roma.
He had been jailed for violent behaviour and resisting arrest, along with three other United fans: Kyle Dillon, aged 23, Richard Wimmer, aged 39, and Nicholas Lucas, aged 18.
All four were freed at an appeal hearing yesterday after being presented with a deal by the public prosecutor.
They each pleaded guilty to resisting arrest and accepted 16-month suspended sentences in return for immediate release and having two other charges dropped.
Mr Burk's family and friends had been campaigning for his release with the support of Worsley MP Barbara Keeley.
Ms Keeley said: "I have campaigned on this issue since I found out all the problems with the representation and trial process of Michael Burk. I felt it was a wrongful conviction.
"I am pleased that my constituent has now received a fair hearing and has won back his freedom."
The MP had been concerned about the shortened trial procedure following the fans' arrest and the lack of a court interpreter for Mr Burk.
She recently raised the case in the Commons with the Europe Minister, Jim Murphy.
Mr Burk's partner, Carmon Ducker, had lobbied MPs during a trip to London last month. His fiancee had also written to football celebrities to enlist their help.
Italian media claimed the four men had been part of a group of 20 United supporters who had caused trouble in Rome that night.
Fighting was broken up with two baton charges by riot police. Five United fans were stabbed during the incident.
Greater Manchester Police had provided "spotters" to work with Italian police outside the Stadio Olimpico, but there were conflicting reports as to whether they had correctly identified the four men as troublemakers.
Showing posts with label The Bolton News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Bolton News. Show all posts
Saturday, 3 May 2008
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.
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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.
Friday, 21 December 2007
United fan jailed following Roma fight
The Bolton News
By Saiqa Chaudhari
A MANCHESTER United fan from Little Hulton has been jailed for his part in a fight with rival footballer supporters during a Champions League game in Italy.
Michael Burk, aged 35, has been jailed for two years and five months, said a British Embassy spokesman in Rome.
Burk was arrested on December 12, together with three other Manchester United supporters, after fighting with AS Roma fans before the group game in the Italian capital.
He was charged with violent behaviour and resisting arrest after skirmishes broke out on the Duca d'Aosta bridge near the Stadio Olimpico, a well-known hangout for Roma's hardline supporters or "Ultras".
Italian media reports at the time suggested the four men were part of a group of around 60 supporters that broke away from an escort and made their own way to the stadium before hitting trouble.
Greater Manchester police provided spotters to work with Italian police outside the Stadio Olimpico. But there are conflicting reports as to whether they identified the four.
Italian riot police broke up fighting with two baton charges.
Five United fans were stabbed during skirmishes between a group of 50 rival fans on the Wednesday evening.
It is believed the four men were known to police in England but were not subject to any football banning orders.
The other men jailed were Nicholas Lucas, aged 18 who received the same sentence as Burk; Kyle Dillion, aged 23, from Mottram, near Hyde, and Richard Wimmer, aged 39. The two were jailed for two years and six months.
They will appear in court again on Monday where an appeals tribunal will decide whether or not to release them, the Embassy spokesman said.
This would mean they would serve suspended sentences and could mean they could be home for Christmas.
The teams drew 1-1, and both qualified for the knock-out stages of the Champions League.
6:44pm Friday 21st December 2007
By Saiqa Chaudhari
A MANCHESTER United fan from Little Hulton has been jailed for his part in a fight with rival footballer supporters during a Champions League game in Italy.
Michael Burk, aged 35, has been jailed for two years and five months, said a British Embassy spokesman in Rome.
Burk was arrested on December 12, together with three other Manchester United supporters, after fighting with AS Roma fans before the group game in the Italian capital.
He was charged with violent behaviour and resisting arrest after skirmishes broke out on the Duca d'Aosta bridge near the Stadio Olimpico, a well-known hangout for Roma's hardline supporters or "Ultras".
Italian media reports at the time suggested the four men were part of a group of around 60 supporters that broke away from an escort and made their own way to the stadium before hitting trouble.
Greater Manchester police provided spotters to work with Italian police outside the Stadio Olimpico. But there are conflicting reports as to whether they identified the four.
Italian riot police broke up fighting with two baton charges.
Five United fans were stabbed during skirmishes between a group of 50 rival fans on the Wednesday evening.
It is believed the four men were known to police in England but were not subject to any football banning orders.
The other men jailed were Nicholas Lucas, aged 18 who received the same sentence as Burk; Kyle Dillion, aged 23, from Mottram, near Hyde, and Richard Wimmer, aged 39. The two were jailed for two years and six months.
They will appear in court again on Monday where an appeals tribunal will decide whether or not to release them, the Embassy spokesman said.
This would mean they would serve suspended sentences and could mean they could be home for Christmas.
The teams drew 1-1, and both qualified for the knock-out stages of the Champions League.
6:44pm Friday 21st December 2007
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