TWO football fans have come forward with fresh evidence which could help free jailed teenager Michael Shields.
The men contacted Liverpool Labour party leader Joe Anderson after he officially appealed for new witnesses to the attack the 19-year-old was convicted of carrying out.
Michael has always insisted he was asleep when Bulgarian barman Martin Georgiev was slammed over the head with a paving slab outside a fast-food takeaway in May.
But he was convicted in July and jailed for 15 years in the Black Sea town of Varna.
Last week Liverpool council approved a motion appealing for witnesses ahead of the Wavertree student's forthcoming final appeal.
The civic motion also urged Anfield electrician Graham Sankey, who has admitted being the attacker, to fly to Bulgaria to give evidence.
One of the men who has come forward alleges he saw Sankey pick up a paving slab and smash it over the head of father-of-two Georgiev.
The witness has agreed to sign his statement and will fly to Bulgaria to give evidence if required.
Cllr Anderson hopes the development will boost Michael's bid for freedom. He said: "I've met and spoken with both men and what they told me is crucial.
"They are happy to sign their statements and I'm hoping they will both be accepted by the appeal court. More importantly, they will fly over there and tell the court what they saw.
"I hope that will be very useful. Neither know either Michael or Graham Sankey - but they know what they saw.
