THE father of a Liverpool teenager jailed for 15 years in Bulgaria for a crime he insists he did not commit said he was "hopeful" his son would be granted a re-trial.
Michael Shields, 19, appeared in court in Bulgaria to appeal against his conviction for the attempted murder of a barman in the Black Sea resort of Golden Sands.
The Supreme Court sitting in Sofia was adjourned after the hour-long hearing and judges are expected to reveal their decision at a later date.
The victim was struck on the head with a paving slab during a brawl outside a chip shop last May.
Mr Shields was holidaying with friends after watching his beloved Liverpool FC win the Champions League trophy in Turkey.
The Wavertree teenager has always insisted he had nothing to do with the fight and was asleep in his hotel room at the time.
Another Liverpool man - 20-year-old Anfield electrician Graham Sankey - later issued a written "confession" to the attack, which the Bulgarian court refused to consider.
Mr Sankey's solicitor has since suggested it may have been an entirely different fight in which his client took part.
