His lawyers argued those errors were accepted only in hindsight, and through the fight put up to try and stop him being prosecuted it was clear that, by the time he uttered not guilty at his manslaughter plea hearing in September 2018, he did not think those failings were so bad they were criminal. For a person to be found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter the prosecution has to prove that he - or she - owed a duty of care to the victim and negligently breached it. He was. When asked if his "negligence" caused the disaster he told the inquest: "I wouldn't use the word negligence sir. Former superintendent Roger Marshall agreed match. So ashamed, embarrassed, distressed that at a later boardroom meeting of officials he failed to correct his lie - with one inquest witness claiming he actually repeated it. The CPS announces that a police officer and a farrier will not be prosecuted over allegations that they fabricated a story about a police horse being burnt with cigarettes at Hillsborough. Although there were other causes, the main reason for the disaster was the failure of police control, it concludes. David Duckenfield is charge with gross negligence manslaughter of 96 victims, while former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell is charged with two health and safety offences. By November 1991, he was medically retired from South Yorkshire Police on a full pension, two years after being suspended from duty. "I hid myself away and could not bear the word Hillsborough", he said. " Sheffield Wednesday's former club secretary Graham Mackrell was found guilty of a health and safety offence in May 2019. The jury found match commander - former Ch Supt David Duckenfield - "responsible for manslaughter by gross negligence" due to a breach of his duty of care. He said this as schoolboys, sisters, a dad and his son were among those crushed inside pens created because they were treated like thugs rather than humans. And it was David Duckenfield who gave this impression. What is wrong is that it has taken 30 years to get to this point. DeSantis won't say he's running. The retired chief . Asked by Mansfield why he had chosen to remain silent for 26 years, Duckenfield said that he had been prompted to finally tell the whole truth after the publication of the report by the Hillsborough Independent Panel in 2012 and a television programme he had seen about the disasters effect on the families. The following March, a Home Office meeting consideres material submitted by the Hillsborough Family Support Group (HFSG) calling for a new inquiry but advice to the attorney general says the 3.15pm cut-off had been fully justifiable. Shortly before kick-off, in an attempt to ease overcrowding outside the entrance turnstiles, the police match commander, David Duckenfield, ordered exit gate C to be opened, leading to an influx of supporters entering the pens. After delivering the verdict the judge, Sir Peter Openshaw thanked the jury before they were dismissed. It also prompts calls for criminal action. Of the 96 people who were crushed, trampled or suffocated, 37 were teenagers, most still at school, many attending their first away game supporting Liverpool. David Conn Tue 1 Apr 2014 16.32 EDT The South Yorkshire police officer in charge of the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough football ground, at which 96 Liverpool. "With all due respect, my lord, 96 people were found unlawfully killed to a criminal standard," she said. Ch Supt Duckenfield reacted to the build-up of supporters outside the ground by ordering the gates to be opened before the game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. It took some tortuous legal logic to create a courtroom environment where this could be allowed to happen. But he now admits the crush occurred after he ordered an exit gate to be opened allowing 2,000 Liverpool fans to enter the stadium in just five minutes. Former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie apologises for the papers 1989 front page. The full report reinforces criticism of the police while its recommendations lead to the introduction of all-seater stadiums and the removal of perimeter fencing around grounds. The Taylor Report causes UK-wide changes to football stadiums, seeing fencing removed and standing terraces converted to seating areas at large venues. 91.195.53.16 That sets the bar very high for the prosecution. After the verdict a CPS statement said that the decision of the jury does not affect the findings in the inquest which ruled the victims of the tragedy were unlawfully killed. The stories of personal loss and individual pain have too often been overlooked. At that point, Duckenfield gave the command to open another gate to the stadium and about 2,000 fans then made their way into the ground. The High Court quashes the accidental death verdicts and new inquests are ordered. Crucially, the panel finds that 41 victims did not have signs of the crush injuries originally claimed by pathologists, and so may have been saved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. For all that time, the families of those who died, and the survivors of the crush, have campaigned for justice and accountability. Hillsboroughs final victim, 22-year-old Tony Bland, dies after being taken off life support, pushing the death toll up to 96. A second juror is discharged on 19 November after suffering a bereavement, leaving a jury of seven women and three men to decide the case. Sir, it is now that I have thought very seriously about the families, Duckenfield said, explaining that the video was the most moving thing he had ever seen, and that it had shown him what it means to a mother to lose a loved one. The prosecution alleged Mr Duckenfield had a "personal responsibility" for what happened at the match. There are renewed calls for a fresh inquest or public inquiry. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. What happened in Sheffield was beyond horrific. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The jury found match commander - former Ch Supt David. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Mackrell, who sought in his defence to blame Liverpool supporters for the dangerous congestion that developed at the turnstiles, will be sentenced on 13 May. Sir Peter Openshaw, the judge, told the jury that the inquests findings which were not discussed in court were quite irrelevant. Mr Duckenfield did not dispute that he ordered the opening of a gate at Hillsborough to let fans in, or that he failed to close the tunnel to the terraces which were already full. Labour MP Andy Burnhams address to the 20th anniversary memorial service is interrupted by chants of Justice for the 96. The Hillsborough Family Support Group mounts a private prosecution of Duckenfield and his deputy, superintendentBernard Murray, for manslaughter. The court heard he had ordered the opening of exit gates at the Leppings Lane end of the ground at 14:52 BST on 15 April 1989 - eight minutes before kick-off, after the area outside the turnstiles became dangerously overcrowded. Only one ambulance made it onto the pitch; 42 remained in a queue outside. During days of intense questioning at the inquests in March 2015, he admitted that he had lied about mistakes he made on the day and had kept that lie going for 26 years and through several legal inquiries. Yet this was not a doddery septuagenarian being persecuted inappropriately for actions long buried in the past. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. He said this as Dolores Steele, Barry Devonside and Trevor Hicks - all of whom lost children, all of whom gave evidence in these trials - were desperately hoping their teenagers would survive. There were gasps in court as the seven women and three men on the jury returned the verdict, following 13 hours and 43 minutes of discussions. david duckenfield cycling. [1] This resulted in overcrowding of those pens and the crush. Expert policing witness Douglas Hopkins said this was a potential warning sign. But he remains a liar whose claims caused hurt, anger and despair. The families watching in a conference room in Liverpool were aghast. The prosecution in the case alleged Duckenfield, 75, had a "personal responsibility" for what happened at the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. No one should have to suffer the emotional damage that comes with such a burden. I hoped it would go away. The report says a pitch invasion was unlikely at the beginning of a match and there was no effective leadership to organise rescue efforts or relieve pressure from behind the pens where the crush happened. Solicitor Peter Metcalf, former chief superintendent Donald Denton and former detective chief inspector Alan Foster are all charged with perverting the course of justice. Get email updates with the day's biggest stories. He agreed with Michael Mansfield QC, representing 75 families whose relatives were killed in the lethal crush, that he was practising and persisted in a far-reaching deceit on the day, by lying to Football Association and football club officials about his actions. The funnel-shaped nature of the area meant that the congestion was hard to escape for those at the front, says the BBC. ", "I have no excuses. The former South Yorkshire Police chief. News. Liverpool FC said it shared "the reactions and frustrations by the families today and those affected by the Hillsborough tragedy". "The journey that reached today's stage, and will continue, is testament to the perseverance and determination of all involved in the ongoing campaign for justice," the club said. Hennesseys daughter Charlotte, who was six at the time of the disaster, has had the course of her existence changed. This 1992 family photo shows, from left, her son Thomas . I did my very best on the day.". The new Hillsborough inquests start in Warrington, and go on to become the longest case ever heard by a British jury. David Duckenfield was in charge when a crush developed in terraced pens on 15 April 1989 . There has been barely any for those who were mindbogglingly inept at Hillsborough. He said footage of a mother having to cuddle her dead child on the dirty floor of the Hillsborough gymnasium was the most moving thing he had ever seen, and that it had shown him "what it means to a mother to lose a loved one". The FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest ends in tragedy as a crush at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesdays Hillsborough stadium leads to the death of 96 Liverpool fans, with more than 750 people injured. Mr Duckenfield, now 71, had claimed that after a large crowd built up outside the turnstiles at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium, Liverpool fans had broken in, causing a rush of people to flood into the fenced-in terraces. Because of the length of time between the disaster and his death, the law does not allow Mr Duckenfield to be charged with Mr Blands manslaughter. "It is right that an impartial and thorough investigation was carried out, and it is right that a jury was asked to make a judgement of the facts. Duckenfield responded: Sir, I was not outside the turnstiles, but I am not in a position to dispute his view.. That should never have happened, and we will continue to learn the . Sergeant Michael Goddard, who was in the police control box, told the trial the request was not unusual, 2.30pm: Duckenfield raises the size of the crowd outside the Leppings Lane turnstiles and asks ground commander, Supt Bernard Murray, whether those fans will be in the ground for the 3pm kick-off. The then Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) concludes that there is no new evidence as alleged by the HFSG and their legal representatives, and therefore no grounds for reopening the police investigation into the Hillsborough disaster. because Duckenfield was acquitted in 2019 of a charge of gross negligence manslaughter, . The 96 Liverpool supporters unlawfully killed at Hillsborough. Read about our approach to external linking. But despite it finding that police evidence to the Taylor inquiry had been doctored, home secretary Jack Straw rules out a new inquiry. He had originally been accused of the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 Liverpool fans, but denied all the charges. He was fined 6,500 and ordered to pay 5,000. He also admitted to a "terrible lie". Duckenfield then lied and told FA executives that fans had broken in to the stadium. He didn't breach his duty, he did what he was expected to do in difficult circumstances.". A Liverpool fan, he was present at the Hillsborough disaster, The not-guilty verdict over the Hillsborough tragedy has grave implications for society, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. On 1 November, a juror is discharged after telling fellow jurors dickhead Duckenfield needs to die, but the judge rules that the trial can proceed. david duckenfield cycling david duckenfield cycling. ", To the families he added: "It has now dawned on me what it means to you, and I am dreadfully sorry. The defendant's conduct must fall so far below the standard to be expected of a reasonably competent and careful person in the defendant's position, that it was something truly, exceptionally bad. For one teacher, it was a life well-lived. They were even more appalled when Openshaw called the defendant a poor chap after Duckenfield was forced to go to hospital with a suspected chest infection. Posted on 26 Feb in avondale redbud problems. David Duckenfield, who was the chief superintendent in charge of the game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, told FA officials at 3.15pm that "a gate had been forced and there had been an. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15357db81277bc It is hard to comprehend how the relatives have maintained their dignity in the face of numerous disappointments and crass treatment from the authorities. Sue Hemming, the CPS director of legal services, reacts to the decision by issuing a scathing statement. "Everybody knew the truth, the fans and police knew the truth that we'd opened the gates," he said. BBC News Inquests into the 96 football fans who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster have concluded they were unlawfully killed. Summing up the case, the judge said: "The deaths of 96 spectators, many of whom were very young, is, of course, a profound human tragedy attended by much anguish and anger which for many has not passed with time. It is rejected by Lord Justice McCowan in the divisional court. David Duckenfield was police match commander at the Hillsborough disaster He went on trial for gross negligence manslaughter over the deaths of fans Following a retrial, he was cleared today . 2.52pm: After a third request to open the gates from Supt Marshall - who this time says there is a risk of injury or death if it is not done - Duckenfield orders them to be opened. Relatives and friends of the victims were gathered at the Cunard Building on Liverpool's waterfront when the verdict was announced. Sir, I am the man in overall control, he replied. After Duckenfield mentioned the contribution in the police control room of Bernard Murray, who was a superintendent but has since died, Menon asked him if he was seeking to blame other people. "I would like to know who is responsible for my father's death because someone is.". A jury failed to reach a verdict in the case of David Duckenfield, the former South Yorkshire police chief superintendent and match commander on the day of the Hillsborough disaster. The scrutiny goes ahead but in February 1998, Lord Justice Stuart-Smith rejects grounds for quashing the accidental death verdicts or bringing prosecutions. Despite having a greater following than Nottingham Forest, Liverpools supporters were allocated the smaller end of the stadium, Leppings Lane, so that their route would not bring them into contact with Forest fans arriving from the south. The citys council cancelled a planned outdoor commemoration event and instead will light 96 lanterns on the steps of St Georges Hall. Assistant Commissioner Rob Beckley, who was in overall command of Operation Resolve - the criminal inquiry into the disaster, acknowledged the jury "had a difficult and challenging task". Mistake. He admitted everything at the 2015 inquests into the disaster, saying that his professional failings led to the deaths of 96 innocent men, women and children. Jury fails to reach a verdict on the charges against Mr Duckenfield, but convicts Mr Mackrell of a health and safety offence. The jury was shown pictures of fans in the Leppings Lane end of the stadium as the disaster unfolded, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Live reporting from the Hillsborough Inquests, Families and players react to conclusions. More than 2,000 fans then entered through exit gate C, with many heading for the tunnel ahead of them, which led to the central pens of the terrace where the crush happened. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Gate C, leading to the Leppings Lane terraces, is opened. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Latest trial follows two sets of inquests, private prosecutions and civil proceedings over the disaster, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. Margaret Aspinall reacts to Mr Duckenfield's trial verdict, Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James was among those who died, said: "The question I'd like to ask all of you and people within the system is who put 96 people in their graves, who is accountable?". South Yorkshire coroner Dr Stefan Popper begins the inquest process into the deaths, but only considers events up until 3.15pm on the day of the disaster, nine minutes after the match was stopped, so the role of the emergency services after the disaster does not come under scrutiny. At the hearings he accepted he should have taken steps to close the tunnel to the central pens after ordering the opening of the exit gate. He said this minutes after he - the man tasked with keeping those people safe - had ordered for exit gates to be opened. They applied to have the case against them dismissed after a month of evidence in a trial that had been awaited for decades by the victims families. He said he had post traumatic stress disorder, and hid myself away and could not bear the word Hillsborough after the report was published, but then said he had begun to face the truth two years ago, with the help of doctors. Men, women and children were crushed on the Leppings Lane terrace. Evidence was put to Duckenfield, who had very limited experience of football policing before he was promoted to command the semi-final only 19 days earlier, from Colin Allen, a Merseyside policeman who went to the match as a Liverpool supporter and survived the crush. Civil actions seeking damages starts within days of the disaster, both from relatives of the victims and survivors who have suffered physical injuries and psychological effects. The new Labour government orders a review of the evidence by Lord Justice Stuart-Smith. It was David Duckenfield, Preston Crown Court heard, who told FA chiefs fans had gained entry through a "forced" stadium gate before the crush on the terraces beyond. Covid cut it short. More than 2,000 fans entered through exit gate C once it was opened and many headed for the tunnel ahead of them, which led to the central pens where the crush happened. Duckenfields acquittal underlines that no one has been held responsible for Hillsborough. Duckenfield retires on medical grounds, suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. The Hillsborough match commander was cleared of gross negligence manslaughter. It remained open for more than five minutes. Attorney general Dominic Grieve had made an application based on the Hillsborough Independent Panels report. It is true the same stadium exit gate he ordered to be opened at 2.52pm opened minutes earlier without his instruction. The jury had a difficult and challenging task examining evidence going back decades and I respect their decision. Application for a retrial is refused. He said: "He has a resilient, passive and expressionless external presentation which gives no indication of his state of mind so don't draw an adverse inference against him.". Duckenfield, a retired chief superintendent, 75, denied the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool supporters at the FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Christine, whose father Henry Burke was killed in the disaster, addressed the judge after the verdict was read out. Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher, 18, died in the disaster, said: "I'm shocked and stunned by the verdict of the jury. The ruling states that all the victims were dead by 3.15pm. I apologise unreservedly to the families and I hope they believe it is a very, very sincere apology. Ben Myers QC made the claim in his. Now the Crown Prosecution Service could consider a prosecution against the former chief superintendent from South Yorkshire police after a jury decided his actions amounted to "manslaughter by gross negligence" due to a breach of his duty of care to fans. For this to happen, there needs to be accountability. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Here is how events have unfolded in the 30 years since the disaster. At 2.48pm Gate C was opened - also by police in the area - sparking a comment from an officer alongside Duckenfield that fans had stormed the ground. Judge Sir Peter Openshaw rejects a defence application to ban reporting on the Hillsborough trial until the jury delivers its verdict. I am now very much older, very much wiser and very much more understanding of the events of the day and have decided to tell the whole truth, Duckenfield said. The inquests become controversial after Dr Stefan Popper limits their scope to events up to 3.15pm on the day of the disaster just nine minutes after the match was halted and excludes the witness evidence of two doctors inside the stadium. There will be a service at the Anglican cathedral, and a minutes silence will be observed at 3.06pm the moment the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest was stopped as the scale of the disaster became apparent. 2023 BBC. The matchday commander at Hillsborough was found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter charges pertaining to his role in the football disaster 30. The court heard the chief superintendent ordered the opening of exit gates at the Leppings Lane end of the ground at 2.52pm, eight minutes before kick-off, after the area outside the turnstiles became dangerously overcrowded. In July 2000, Murray is acquitted after a six-week trial. 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