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. It is rejected by Lord Justice McCowan in the divisional court. 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. 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. "I am really angry but I am trying be calm for these families who have suffered," she said. 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.". I apologise unreservedly to the families and I hope they believe it is a very, very sincere apology. Duckenfield retires on medical grounds, suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. A judge lifts the historic stay of further prosecution on Mr Duckenfield, allowing new proceedings to go ahead. 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. 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. Duckenfield had agreed earlier that he had not acted as a reasonably competent match commander on the day, due to the mistakes he made. The prosecution alleged Mr Duckenfield had a "personal responsibility" for what happened at the match. The inquest jury finds that Hillsboroughs 96 victims were unlawfully killed and that Liverpool fans were not responsible for 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. Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher, 18, died in the disaster, said: "I'm shocked and stunned by the verdict of the jury. We need to be able to trust the emergency services and the systems that are set up to protect the populace. This was to be a fatal decision as thousands of Liverpool. Meanwhile, the families of six victims appeal for a judicial review application to quash the inquest verdict. Tony Evans is a journalist and former football editor of the Times. My first thoughts are with the 96 people who died in the Hillsborough disaster, their families, and the thousands of people who have been deeply affected by the events of 15th April 1989. Home secretary Theresa May orders a new criminal investigation into the disaster, Operation Resolve. That should never have happened, and we will continue to learn the . Sir Peter Openshaw, the judge, told the jury that the inquests findings which were not discussed in court were quite irrelevant. 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 matchday commander at Hillsborough was found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter charges pertaining to his role in the football disaster 30. 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. The acquittal was not a shock. 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. Judith Moritz, BBC North of England correspondent. Inquests into the 96 football fans who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster have concluded they were unlawfully killed. 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. david duckenfield cycling. Judge Sir Peter Openshaw also told jurors the condition could explain Duckenfield's lack of reaction as he sat in the well of the court throughout the trial. Visit our corporate site www.futureplc.com Future Publishing Limited, Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. It also must be proved that it could be foreseen the breach would give rise to an obvious risk of death, that it caused the death and - most challenging of all - that the circumstances of the breach were so reprehensible as to justify the conclusion that it amounted to gross negligence and required criminal sanction. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Ms Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, thanked those who had supported the families over the past 31 years. The trial of Mr Duckenfield and Mr Mackrell starts at Preston Crown Court. Read about our approach to external linking. D avid Duckenfield can finally rest easily. Wed 1 Mar 2023 12.40 . Tom Davidson Assistant news editor. 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. This 1992 family photo shows, from left, her son Thomas . It was even more dispiriting to hear the defence barrister, Benjamin Myers QC, recycle all the rancid myths that grew out of Duckenfields dissembling: that fans turned up late, alcohol was a factor and supporters ignored police instructions. The inquest heard Mr Duckenfield testify he was struggling to sleep in the run-up to the 1989 Taylor Inquiry, and claimed to be drinking "half tumblers of whisky" to "find the courage" to read statements. "He understands the public interest in this case, but would ask that his privacy and that of his family is respected, and will not be commenting further. BBC News Inquests into the 96 football fans who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster have concluded they were unlawfully killed. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a15357db81277bc There were shouts in the room as the verdict was announced. Abuse of process arguments for other defendants fails. Attorney general Dominic Grieve had made an application based on the Hillsborough Independent Panels report. Medical assistance at Hillsborough was woefully inadequate. It may sound like a clich to say lessons must be learnt, but todays verdict means this has never been more relevant or important. Expert policing witness Douglas Hopkins said this was a potential warning sign. ", "It is important to remember that criminal proceedings have a very different purpose to an inquest.". It was a catastrophic and deadly error. The agony of the families of the dead is unimaginable. The Crown Prosecution Service has said it will seek a retrial, which Duckenfield is expected to oppose, at a hearing scheduled for 24 June. He had no experience managing soccer matches, let alone an FA Cup semi-final. The retired chief superintendent, 75, denied the charge relating to the FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989. david duckenfield cycling. For this to happen, there needs to be accountability. "I think it's fair to say that it is arguably one of the biggest regrets of my life, that I did not foresee where fans would go when they came in through the gates," he said. 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. And despite the words of regret expressed in 2015, this included the resurrection of shameless claims about ticketless and late supporters. Duckenfield then lied and told FA executives that fans had broken in to the stadium. He said this minutes after he - the man tasked with keeping those people safe - had ordered for exit gates to be opened. "I hid myself away and could not bear the word Hillsborough", he said. " The prosecution in the case alleged Duckenfield, 75, had a 'personal responsibility' for what happened at the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15 1989, where 96 men, women. But this influx caused further crushing inside the stadium, with fans at the front attempting to climb onto the pitch to safety. 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. David Conn. 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. Mr Duckenfield's defence counsel argued the case against him was "deeply unfair". Relatives and friends of the victims were gathered at the Cunard Building on Liverpool's waterfront when the verdict was announced. 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. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Duckenfields acquittal underlines that no one has been held responsible for Hillsborough. But then two years ago I had to force myself to look at matters and, as a result, I could only do so with the assistance of doctors. David Duckenfield is not a criminal, a jury has decided. In 2015 at the Hillsborough Inquests he accepted that this was the direct cause of the 96 deaths. 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. Those systems failed on 15 April, 1989, and no one will ever take responsibility for that failure. As always you can unsubscribe at any time. The finding undermines the decision made by the coroner in the first inquests to limit their scope to events before 3.15pm, and not consider the chaotic medical response after that point. 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 death of two witnesses and contradictions in the evidence of others is cited as part of the reason for the decision. 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. The families of the 96 Liverpool fans who died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final, the survivors who managed to get out of the overcrowded pens at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesdays ground, and the campaigners who have fought relentlessly for justice for decades were expecting the verdict. There are renewed calls for a fresh inquest or public inquiry. 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. 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. Her adult life has been dominated by the quest to find the truth about her father and gain justice for him. He was initially accused of telling lies about the culpability of fans and his role in the event, reports the BBC. Lord Justice McCowan says he can see no fault in the coroner for cutting off the scope of the inquests at 3.15pm because he relied on medical evidence, and refuses to quash the verdicts. News. Yet one thing that is crucial to remember is that today's verdict does not undo, undermine or cancel out the verdicts of those historic inquests. 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. That sets the bar very high for the prosecution. The jury did, however, reach a majority verdict to convict Graham Mackrell, Sheffield Wednesdays then-secretary and safety officer, of failing to take reasonable care of Liverpool supporters safety, by allocating only seven turnstiles for the 10,100 people. Posted on 26 Feb in avondale redbud problems. David Duckenfield was in charge when a crush developed in terraced pens on 15 April 1989 . The citys council cancelled a planned outdoor commemoration event and instead will light 96 lanterns on the steps of St Georges Hall. Jurors hear how a PCs account of the disaster was changed to remove criticisms of police, but notes about drunk fans were kept in. 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. The story prompts a boycott of the paper on Merseyside, still upheld by many today. Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans in the 1989 disaster. 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. "We have immense admiration for the Hillsborough families, survivors and campaigners for what they have achieved and our thoughts remain with them and those 96 Liverpool supporters who went to watch their team and never came home.". The jury at Mr Duckenfield's original trial earlier this year failed to agree a verdict. The man who caused so much pain has escaped the consequences. The jury fails to reach a verdict on Duckenfield. He was. I hoped it would go away. Hawara: 'What happened was horrific and barbaric'. erath county rant and rave; springfield, mo jail inmates; essex county hospital center jobs; blanching vs non blanching erythema; star trek next generation cast salaries After delivering the verdict the judge, Sir Peter Openshaw thanked the jury before they were dismissed. 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. The High Court quashes the original inquest verdicts of accidental death and orders new inquests. David Duckenfield, a Police Chief Superintendent, who has been accused of the death of 96 people in the tragic incident of the Hillsborough disaster, was found not guilty in charge of manslaughter. The match commander on the day, David Duckenfield, was cleared of gross. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. It fuels calls for a new inquiry and is later awarded a Bafta. After reviewing 450,000 documents, the Hillsborough Independent Panel publishes a report highlighting police failings and the alleged campaign to blame Liverpool supporters for the disaster. 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. A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the verdict did not affect the findings of the Hillsborough inquests, which ruled the victims had been unlawfully killed. "Everybody knew the truth, the fans and police knew the truth that we'd opened the gates," he said. 27 febrero, 2023 . Mr Murray is acquitted and the jury is undecided on David Duckenfield. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. 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 . The court was played audio of the retired chief superintendent giving evidence to inquests in 2015. Sleep expert shares exact time children should go to bed, 11 things we learnt at an explosive Liverpool Council budget meeting, Police say body found in search for missing baby in Sussex, Eccleston skier races into a podium finish at Italian competition, Last minute donation saves Wirral flat full of unique artwork at auction, CQC publish findings on Ainsdale Court care home in Rainhill, Human error to blame for train crash - Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. The High Court rejects an application for judicial review of the inquest verdicts brought by six representative families. He told the court: "We say David Duckenfield did do what he was expected to do as match commander. 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". 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". 2023 BBC. 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. 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. 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. 2023 BBC. The entrance had a limited number of turnstiles, of which just seven were allocated to the 10,100 fans with tickets for the standing terraces. Turnips vs. tomatoes: should salad crisis force UK shoppers back to their roots? The former chief superintendent of South Yorkshire police, David Duckenfield, leaves after giving evidence to the Hillsborough inquest in Warrington. One called out in court I dont want your apology and several walked out. 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. The High Court quashes the accidental death verdicts and new inquests are ordered. "I would like to know who is responsible for my father's death because someone is.". 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. "We say that is unfair, there are so many other people at fault, and so many causes," the barrister added. 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. Mr Duckenfields retrial starts at Preston Crown Court. The CPS announces that all charges against Sir Norman Bettison are being dropped because there is insufficient evidence for a realistic chance of a conviction, which is the test for all prosecutions. VideoAt the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Why Covid lab-leak theory is now being taken seriously, Blackpink lead top stars back on the road in Asia, Exploring the rigging claims in Nigeria's elections, 'Wales is in England' gaffe sparks TikToker's trip, Ukraine war casts shadow over India's G20 ambitions, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. 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. At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. "30 years means myths took root about fans being a cause of the disaster, now unequivocally shown by both defence and prosecution evidence to be wrong. Live reporting from the Hillsborough Inquests, Families and players react to conclusions. The jury had a difficult and challenging task examining evidence going back decades and I respect their decision. Following judicial advice, the PCA decides against proceeding against Mr Murray alone. The turnstiles became difficult to operate and people were starting to be crushed. The Week is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. He described the policing outside the Leppings Lane turnstiles, where Duckenfield accepted the South Yorkshire police lost control at 2:40pm, as non-existent or shambolic at best. "We firmly believe that we have done everything in our power to do right by our Steven and we walk away from this case with our dignity and our heads held high.". And a jury of seven women and three men agreed with him when they cleared the 75-year-old of gross negligence manslaughter. "Thirty years means myths took root about fans being a cause of the disaster, now unequivocally shown by both defence and prosecution evidence to be wrong. It remained open for more than five minutes. The most exhaustive and longest inquest in British history was dismissed as not being pertinent. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Duckenfield was a public servant who failed in his basic duties to the people he was charged with protecting. He also admitted to a "terrible lie". Covid cut it short. It also prompts calls for criminal action. ", Clive Coleman, BBC legal affairs correspondent. The Independent Police Complaints Commission launches an investigation into an alleged cover-up by officers in the aftermath of the disaster. 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. This halts disciplinary proceedings being brought by the Police Complaints Authority. Start your free trial. The prosecution of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield was "breathtakingly unfair" as he was made to take the blame for others, a jury has heard. The former match commander's solicitor, Ian Lewis, said: "David is of course relieved that the jury has found him not guilty, however his thoughts and sympathies remain with the families of those who lost their loved ones. 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. Sir, I am the man in overall control, he replied. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. But while his acquittal means he did not fail to a criminal standard, it does not mean he did not fail at all. The ruling states that all the victims were dead by 3.15pm. One of the many tragedies of the Hillsborough disaster is the first explanation for what claimed the lives of those men, women and children was a suggestion it was Liverpool supporters who were responsible. He acknowledged that even after he said he realised, at 3:04pm on the day, that he was facing a medical emergency not an incident of disorder, he called for police dogs to come to the ground, not ambulances. He admitted that until his evidence this week at these new inquests, he had not confessed to the series of mistakes he has now admitted. Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool supporters. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. The former police chief was barely seen or heard of in the immediate aftermath of the disaster. 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. Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool supporters. He will now be able to resume his life in retirement on the south coast. acquit Mr Duckenfield of gross negligence manslaughter, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off and extra perks with Booking.com Genius membership, Extra 25% off kitchen appliances using this AO discount code, 35 off 1st orders with this Soak & Sleep voucher code & orders 100+, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK February 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this February, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Mansfield said: But this isnt what happened on this day, this wasnt fans turning up late, having got into a drunken state, was it?, Duckenfield responded: I will have to disagree., Pressed on whether he had received any information in the buildup to the match that fans turned up drunk and late, he replied: I cant recall, sir.. 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. 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. At a press conference Margaret Aspinall, the chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: I am ashamed of the system in this country that is not holding anyone responsible for the deaths of 96 people.. The scrutiny goes ahead but in February 1998, Lord Justice Stuart-Smith rejects grounds for quashing the accidental death verdicts or bringing prosecutions. Read about our approach to external linking. Duckenfield responded: Sir, I was not outside the turnstiles, but I am not in a position to dispute his view.. Minutes later Duckenfield ordered for that gate to be opened again. Allan Green, the director of public prosecutions, finds there is insufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against any individual, group or corporate body. When Mr Duckenfield, the police officer in charge of keeping people safe at Hillsborough in 1989, attempted to apologise for the deaths of 96 people, the family members listening to his testimony gasped. And yet 23 minutes later he suggested it was the supporters, some of whom were dying beneath him, who were responsible. The new Labour governments home secretary, Jack Straw, notes the discussions but said public concern will not be allayed by a reassurance from the Home Office that there is no new evidence and proposes an independent review. What has been heard here in this court will have been surprising to many, she said. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. ", "I have no excuses. There has been barely any for those who were mindbogglingly inept at Hillsborough. 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. Even while the dead and dying were lying on the pitch, barely attended to by the emergency services, Duckenfield was throwing the blame and trying to avoid the responsibility for a decision that caused the carnage. Labour MP Andy Burnhams address to the 20th anniversary memorial service is interrupted by chants of Justice for the 96. Supporters were not responsible for what happened. Due to the ongoing proceedings relating to Duckenfield, and a forthcoming trial of two former South Yorkshire police officers and the forces then solicitor on charges of perverting the course of justice, the 30-year memorial ceremonies will be muted. The Police Complaints Authority (PCA) find there is sufficient evidence to charge them with neglect of duty but Mr Duckenfield is on sick leave during the process, and retires on medical grounds in November 1991. A police doctor certified him as "unfit to undertake the duties of a police constable" and diagnosed him with "severe depression and post-traumatic stress disorder". announcement by Labour minister Andy Burnham, Hillsborough Independent Panel publishes a report, Theresa May orders a new criminal investigation, The inquest jury concludes that the 96 victims were unlawfully killed. 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.
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what happened to david duckenfield