The Crown Prosecution Service decides that following consideration of all the evidence and documentation, there is no evidence to justify any criminal proceedings against South Yorkshire Police officers, Sheffield Wednesday FC, Sheffield City Council or Eastwoods the structural engineering firm that designed the pens. The trial against retired Ch Supt Donald Denton, 83, retired Det Ch Insp Alan Foster, 74, and former solicitor Peter Metcalf, 71, collapses. All this had been comprehensively dismissed at the inquests. 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. Amid growing calls for transparency, the Hillsborough Independent Panel is set up. He told the court: "We say David Duckenfield did do what he was expected to do as match commander. The new scrutiny is conducted by Lord Justice Stuart-Smith. The former police chief was barely seen or heard of in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher, 18, died in the disaster, said: "I'm shocked and stunned by the verdict of the jury. Paul Robinson, whose brother Steven was killed in the stadium crush, said: "As a family we would like to thank all those who have supported us over the years in our quest for justice and accountability. Recipe: Ayurvedic Jewish penicillin by Dr Rupy Aujla, Sunaks Brexit deal explained in five points, Messi vs. Ronaldo: all-time goals and statistics. But while his acquittal means he did not fail to a criminal standard, it does not mean he did not fail at all. There has been barely any for those who were mindbogglingly inept at Hillsborough. It was closed after 26 seconds and around 150 supporters are believed to have entered. Lord Justice Taylor concludes that the most fans were not drunk, nor even the worse for drink and highlights contributing factors including opening exit gates to allow fans into the ground and failing to delay kick-off. 30 years means evidence has been corroded and some people and organisations cannot answer for their actions because they are no longer with us. Christine, whose father Henry Burke was killed in the disaster, addressed the judge after the verdict was read out. 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. Her adult life has been dominated by the quest to find the truth about her father and gain justice for him. "I would like to know who is responsible for my father's death because someone is.". The story prompts a boycott of the paper on Merseyside, still upheld by many today. Several people whose family members died at Hillsborough in 1989 walked out of the new inquests into the disaster as the former policeman who commanded the FA Cup semi-final tried to explain why he had not told the truth for 26 years, and apologised again to them. Expert policing witness Douglas Hopkins said this was a potential warning sign. I hoped it would go away. It leads to a new criminal inquiry into the disaster and an investigation by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. He didn't breach his duty, he did what he was expected to do in difficult circumstances.". Mr Duckenfield, of Ferndown, Dorset, was cleared after a seven-week retrial at Preston Crown Court. David Duckenfield was in charge when a crush developed in terraced pens on 15 April 1989 . 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. 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. 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. The Taylor Report causes UK-wide changes to football stadiums, seeing fencing removed and standing terraces converted to seating areas at large venues. Match commander tells inquest that watching a documentary made him realise the effect the disaster had on the bereaved families. Around 2,000 fans enter, many heading down a central tunnel and into already busy terrace pens, leading to the tragic crush. 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". Christine Burke, whose father Henry Burke was killed in the disaster, stood in the public gallery and addressed the judge after the verdict was read out. The anniversary comes 12 days after a jury at Preston Crown Court failed to reach a verdict on the prosecution of the match commander, Ch Supt David Duckenfield, who was accused of gross negligence manslaughter, reports The Guardian. A handwritten note apparently written by Tony Blair, asks why? You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. On 28 November, the remaining jurors acquit Mr Duckenfield of gross negligence manslaughter, as the investigating police officer says the delay between the disaster and the trial should not have been allowed to happen. But in November 1991, a House of Lords ruling states that the chief constable of South Yorkshire has admitted liability in negligence in respect of the deaths and physical injuries. He said this minutes after he - the man tasked with keeping those people safe - had ordered for exit gates to be opened. All you need to know about everything that matters. The 96 Liverpool supporters unlawfully killed at Hillsborough. "We, the families, have fought for 30 years valiantly.". The Crown Prosecution Service announces that six people are to be charged with offences in relation to the disaster Mr Duckenfield is charged with manslaughter and former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell for health and safety offences. 0 . Supt Murray assures him they will, 2.47pm: Supt Marshall requests, for the first time, for stadium gates to be opened at the Leppings Lane end. The Sun newspaper publishes its infamous front page with the headline The Truth, blaming drunk Liverpool fans for the disaster and even accusing some of stealing from the dead and injured. Read about our approach to external linking. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Dozens of girls treated after new Iran poisonings, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Covid origin likely China lab incident - FBI chief, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, Havana Syndrome unlikely to have hostile cause - US. Evelyn Newman Duckenfield, center, died at age 81 of covid-19 on Jan 25. The inquest jury finds that Hillsboroughs 96 victims were unlawfully killed and that Liverpool fans were not responsible for the disaster. The matchday commander at Hillsborough was found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter charges pertaining to his role in the football disaster 30 years ago. Mistake. The former chief superintendent of South Yorkshire police, David Duckenfield, leaves after giving evidence to the Hillsborough inquest in Warrington. Jury fails to reach a verdict on the charges against Mr Duckenfield, but convicts Mr Mackrell of a health and safety offence. The farriers prosecution for perverting the course of justice is found not to be in the public interest and there is insufficient evidence against the police officer. The agony of the families of the dead is unimaginable. He vomited inside the bag before he died. A Hillsborough charity music single, a version of He Aint Heavy Hes My Brother, is confirmed as Christmas Number One days later. Prosecutors allege Duckenfield should have taken action to close the tunnel that led to those pens, a tactic his lawyer said he and other experienced officers were unaware of, but which the court heard had been used at Hillsborough before. Mr Duckenfields retrial starts at Preston Crown Court. Members of the public make 17 complaints that are considered for disciplinary action, which is recommended for David Duckenfield and Bernard Murray, who was ground commander on the day. Former Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield, arriving at Preston Crown court for the start of his retrial for the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 Liverpool supporters at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Following judicial advice, the PCA decides against proceeding against Mr Murray alone. Mr Duckenfield's wife, Ann, went over to comfort her husband in the courtroom after the verdict was read out. After sitting for 31 days, the Taylor Inquiry publishes an interim report concluding that the main reason for the disaster was the failure of police control and criticising South Yorkshire Police for blaming Liverpool supporters. Duckenfields ordeal ended at Preston crown court on Thursday. Liverpool FC said it shared "the reactions and frustrations by the families today and those affected by the Hillsborough tragedy". 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. 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. A judge lifts the historic stay of further prosecution on Mr Duckenfield, allowing new proceedings to go ahead. David Duckenfield, the police commander at the Hillsborough football stadium disaster, was on Thursday found not guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans who were. Video, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story, Reaction as David Duckenfield is cleared of manslaughter, argued the case against him was "deeply unfair", Harry and Meghan told to 'vacate' Frogmore Cottage, Rare Jurassic-era bug found at Arkansas Walmart, Dozens of girls treated after new Iran poisonings, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Beer and wine sales in Canada fall to all-time low, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, Havana Syndrome unlikely to have hostile cause - US. 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. South Yorkshire Police match commander, David Duckenfield, is found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter for the deaths of 95 Liverpool fans, in a retrial, by a majority of 9-1. The prosecution argued that, back then, Duckenfield was looking to shift blame. He said he would regret them to his dying day. 2023 BBC. What is the point?. 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. If things go wrong it is important that investigations explain why and ensure the situation never occurs again. HILLSBOROUGH DISASTER- DAVID DUCKENFIELD FOUND NOT GUILTY, David Duckenfield was in charge the day 96 Liverpool fans were killed at Hillsborough, David Duckenfield has been cleared of gross negligence manslaughter, Hillsborough football ground shown to the inquests, Police and fans on the pitch at Hillsborough football stadium in Sheffield on April 15 1989, The disaster claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans. Solicitor Peter Metcalf, former chief superintendent Donald Denton and former detective chief inspector Alan Foster are all charged with perverting the course of justice. Your IP: Duckenfield retires on medical grounds, suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. 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