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.". Only one ambulance made it onto the pitch; 42 remained in a queue outside. The prosecution in the case alleged Duckenfield, 75, had a "personal responsibility" for what happened at the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. 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. The prosecution in the case alleged Duckenfield, 75, had a 'personal responsibility' for what happened at the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, when 96 people were fatally injured . The inquest jury finds that Hillsboroughs 96 victims were unlawfully killed and that Liverpool fans were not responsible for the disaster. He said this minutes after he - the man tasked with keeping those people safe - had ordered for exit gates to be opened. It fuels calls for a new inquiry and is later awarded a Bafta. He was asked whether he thought over the last 26 years about the bereaved families, who according to their barrister, Rajiv Menon QC waged a courageous and unrelenting campaign that culminated in 2012 with the quashing of the first inquests. And it was David Duckenfield who gave this impression. For all that time, the families of those who died, and the survivors of the crush, have campaigned for justice and accountability. Mr Mackrell is fined 6,500 for the offence, sparking outrage from victims relatives who called the penalty shameful. In the eyes of the law Duckenfield is an innocent man. 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. But despite it finding that police evidence to the Taylor inquiry had been doctored, home secretary Jack Straw rules out a new inquiry. A jury found the former South. By the following year, more than 700 claims have been lodged and South Yorkshire Police and Sheffield Wednesday FC start making out-of-court settlements without admission of liability. david duckenfield cycling. 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. After delivering the verdict the judge, Sir Peter Openshaw thanked the jury before they were dismissed. 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 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. Men, women and children were crushed on the Leppings Lane terrace. 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. Benjamin Myers QC told the jury his client had become "the focus of blame". But this influx caused further crushing inside the stadium, with fans at the front attempting to climb onto the pitch to safety. 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. A handwritten note apparently written by Tony Blair, asks why? 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. 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. Match commander tells inquest that watching a documentary made him realise the effect the disaster had on the bereaved families. But the Hillsborough families and survivors will find the outcome hard to take and will ask hard questions about the 65m spent on a criminal investigation which has ended with no one convicted for so many lives lost. The acquittal of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has caused shock and anger after a 30-year campaign for criminal accountability for the disaster. 30 years means evidence has been corroded and some people and organisations cannot answer for their actions because they are no longer with us. Bereaved families are angered that the inquests cannot consider the emergency response after that point, and an accidental death verdict is returned on 26 March 1991. Addressing the families in the court he said: It has now dawned on me what it means to you, and I am dreadfully sorry.. 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. Attempting to explain his words in Warrington, he said: I was probably deeply ashamed, embarrassed, greatly distressed and I probably didnt want to admit to myself or anyone else, what the situation is.". 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. Sheffield Wednesday FC is also criticised for an inadequate number of turnstiles at the Leppings Lane entrance and the poor quality of crush barriers on the terraces, some of which collapsed during the disaster. Judge Sir Peter Openshaw rejects a defence application to ban reporting on the Hillsborough trial until the jury delivers its verdict. because Duckenfield was acquitted in 2019 of a charge of gross negligence manslaughter, . Evelyn Newman Duckenfield, center, died at age 81 of covid-19 on Jan 25. 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. Sheffield Wednesday's former club secretary Graham Mackrell was found guilty of a health and safety offence in May 2019. Here is how events have unfolded in the 30 years since the disaster. 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. The death of two witnesses and contradictions in the evidence of others is cited as part of the reason for the decision. He said he would regret them to his dying day. 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. 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. He said himself, in Warrington, he considered his words to then FA Chief Executive Graham Kelly a lie. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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. 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. 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. Matt Hancock and the Lockdown Files: whats happening with the Covid inquiry? 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. And despite the words of regret expressed in 2015, this included the resurrection of shameless claims about ticketless and late supporters. lifts the historic stay of further prosecution on Mr Duckenfield, fails to reach a verdict on the charges against Mr Duckenfield. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. All rights reserved. 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". "But, as both counsel have advised you and I will now direct you, as you go about your duty you must put aside your emotions and sympathies, either for the bereaved families or indeed for Mr Duckenfield, and decide the case with a cold, calm and dispassionate review of the evidence that you have heard in court.". inquest verdicts brought by six representative families. "We, the families, have fought for 30 years valiantly.". Gate C, leading to the Leppings Lane terraces, is opened. The Week is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. The former chief superintendent said he "deeply regretted" not telling then-FA chief executive Graham Kelly that it was his decision that caused the fatal crush saying he would regret the lie "to his dying day". "I would like to know who is responsible for my father's death because someone is.". 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. Sir Norman Bettison, the former police chief constable accused of blaming fans for the disaster, has all four criminal charges against him dropped. 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. Benjamin Myers QC, defending Duckenfield, told the jury he had been a "target of blame" for the disaster. It was a catastrophic and deadly error. 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?". 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. 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. In 2015 at the Hillsborough Inquests he accepted that this was the direct cause of the 96 deaths. The inquest blames police decisions and the layout of the stadium for the deaths. There has been barely any for those who were mindbogglingly inept at Hillsborough. 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. Christine, whose father Henry Burke was killed in the disaster, addressed the judge after the verdict was read out. Posted on 26 Feb in avondale redbud problems. David Conn. 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. Lord Justice Peter Taylors interim report into the tragedy puts the blame on South Yorkshire Police. It has dashed their hopes repeatedly over the years. 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. A police chief told a "wicked lie" by suggesting Liverpool fans forced open a gate ahead of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, the inquests heard. What is wrong is that it has taken 30 years to get to this point. 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. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. "We say that is unfair, there are so many other people at fault, and so many causes," the barrister added. But while his acquittal means he did not fail to a criminal standard, it does not mean he did not fail at all. News. Recipe: Ayurvedic Jewish penicillin by Dr Rupy Aujla, Sunaks Brexit deal explained in five points, Messi vs. Ronaldo: all-time goals and statistics. Live reporting from the Hillsborough Inquests, Families and players react to conclusions. The Hillsborough Family Support Group mounts a private prosecution of Duckenfield and his deputy, superintendentBernard Murray, for manslaughter. What happened in Sheffield was beyond horrific. He said this as. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Thirty years later he remained a man who sought, via his lawyers, to do the same thing. By November 1991, he was medically retired from South Yorkshire Police on a full pension, two years after being suspended from duty. That should never have happened, and we will continue to learn the . As always you can unsubscribe at any time. ", "I have no excuses. 2023 BBC. "I am really angry but I am trying be calm for these families who have suffered," she said. 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. Something went wrong, please try again later. And a jury of seven women and three men agreed with him when they cleared the 75-year-old of gross negligence manslaughter. 2.17pm: Superintendent Roger Marshall requests for Leppings Lane to be closed to traffic. 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. 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. In July 2000, Murray is acquitted after a six-week trial. 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. 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 Hillsborough match commander was cleared of gross negligence manslaughter. We need to be able to trust the emergency services and the systems that are set up to protect the populace. Yet this was not a doddery septuagenarian being persecuted inappropriately for actions long buried in the past. Covid cut it short. David Duckenfield is not a criminal, a jury has decided. The former South Yorkshire Police chief. A judge lifts the historic stay of further prosecution on Mr Duckenfield, allowing new proceedings to go ahead. 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. David Duckenfield, who as an inexperienced chief superintendent in the South Yorkshire police was in charge of the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, admitted he had not told the. 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. Home secretary Theresa May orders a new criminal investigation into the disaster, Operation Resolve. 2.48pm: One of those gates, Gate C, is opened. Flags will be flown at half-mast across the city, and the bells of the Town Hall will toll 96 times. Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans in the 1989 disaster. This 1992 family photo shows, from left, her son Thomas . 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. Wed 1 Mar 2023 12.40 . Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool supporters. Duckenfields ordeal ended at Preston crown court on Thursday. "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. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Meanwhile, the families of six victims appeal for a judicial review application to quash the inquest verdict. Amid growing calls for transparency, the Hillsborough Independent Panel is set up. We also may change the frequency you receive our emails from us in order to keep you up to date and give you the best relevant information possible. Expert policing witness Douglas Hopkins said this was a potential warning sign. When all Hillsborough legal proceedings are concluded we should, as a society, take time to consider these matters and learn lessons. The story prompts a boycott of the paper on Merseyside, still upheld by many today. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. I did my very best on the day.". The Taylor Report causes UK-wide changes to football stadiums, seeing fencing removed and standing terraces converted to seating areas at large venues. The crown's case was that the Chief Superintendent's failings were so extraordinary that they met that test. Who has been left to carry the weight and pain of the disaster? The families watching in a conference room in Liverpool were aghast. Minutes later Duckenfield ordered for that gate to be opened again. 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. Around 2,000 fans enter, many heading down a central tunnel and into already busy terrace pens, leading to the tragic crush. David Duckenfield is one of six people to be charged with manslaughter over the deaths resulting from the disaster which claimed the lives of 96 fans. The match commander on the day, David Duckenfield, was cleared of gross. PC Maxwell Groome was on duty for the match at Sheffield Wednesdays stadium. The new Hillsborough inquests start in Warrington, and go on to become the longest case ever heard by a British jury. 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. Duckenfield said he had watched a video about the disaster, including footage of a mother having to cuddle her dead child on the dirty floor of the Hillsborough gymnasium, which the police used as a mortuary that day. Due to the law at the time, there can be no prosecution over the death of the 96th victim, Tony Bland. The acquittal was not a shock. 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. And it is not his fault those who deserved to face the same scrutiny he did will never be held accountable for the deaths of the 96. 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. Medical assistance at Hillsborough was woefully inadequate. It is true the same stadium exit gate he ordered to be opened at 2.52pm opened minutes earlier without his instruction. If things go wrong it is important that investigations explain why and ensure the situation never occurs again. 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. Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool supporters. 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. ", Clive Coleman, BBC legal affairs correspondent. 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