Hillsborough prosecutions

We hear today at 11am from the CPS as to how many prosecutions there will be over the Hillsborough disaster 28 years ago.

Thinking of the families and campaigners today in their quest for justice for the 96.

Hopefully, it won't be a scenario of 'not enough evidence' to convict.

My prediction: 0

happypig said:

My prediction: 0

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That's my thought too.

white wash

Throw a few minor coppers to the lions to get the Tories troubles off the front pages

6 people charged including David Duckenfield

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happypig said:

My prediction: 0

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whitelion said:

That's my thought too.

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Six individuals.

The Large One said:

Six individuals.

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Completely surprised.


Interesting to see what the charges are.

Postman Pat said:

6 people charged including David Duckenfield...

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Charged with Manslaughter by gross negligence.

At last, shame Kelvin Mckenzie not indicted too after that front page

Justice, at long last.

whitelion said:

Completely surprised.


Interesting to see what the charges are.

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there is sufficient evidence to charge former Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, who was the Match Commander on the day of the disaster, with the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 men, women and children. We will allege that David Duckenfield's failures to discharge his personal responsibility were extraordinarily bad and contributed substantially to the deaths of each of those 96 people who so tragically and unnecessarily lost their lives. The offence clearly sets out the basis of those allegations. We are unable to charge the manslaughter of Anthony Bland, the 96th casualty, as he died almost four years later. The law as it applied then provided that no person could be guilty of homicide where the death occurred more than a year and a day later than the date when the injuries were caused. In order to prosecute this matter, the CPS will need to successfully apply to remove the stay imposed by a senior judge (now retired) at the end of the 1999 private prosecution when David Duckenfield was prosecuted for two counts of manslaughter by gross negligence previously. We will be applying to a High Court Judge to lift the stay and order that the case can proceed on a voluntary bill of indictment.

Graham Henry Mackrell, who was Sheffield Wednesday Football Club's company secretary and safety officer at the time, is charged with two offences of contravening a term of condition of a safety certificate contrary to the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 and one offence of failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of other persons who may have been affected by his acts or omissions at work under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. These offences relate to alleged failures to carry out his duties as required.

Peter Metcalf, who was the solicitor acting for the South Yorkshire Police during the Taylor Inquiry and the first inquests, is charged with doing acts with intent to pervert the course of public justice relating to material changes made to witness statements. Mr Metcalf, an experienced solicitor, was instructed by Municipal Mutual Insurance to represent the interests of the force at the Taylor Inquiry and in any civil litigation that might result from the Hillsborough Disaster. He reviewed the accounts provided by the officers and made suggestions for alterations, deletions and amendments which we allege were directly relevant to the Salmon letter issued by the Taylor Inquiry and for which there appears to be no justification.

Former Chief Superintendent Donald Denton and former Detective Chief Inspector Alan Foster are similarly charged for their involvement in the same matter. It is alleged that Donald Denton oversaw the process of amending the statements and in doing so, he did acts that had a tendency to pervert the course of public justice and we will say that Alan Foster was central to the process of changing the statements and took action to do so.

Former Chief Constable Norman Bettison is charged with four offences of misconduct in public office relating to telling alleged lies about his involvement in the aftermath of Hillsborough and the culpability of fans. Given his role as a senior police officer, we will ask the jury to find that this was misconduct of such a degree as to amount to an abuse of the public's trust in the office holder.

The defendants, other than David Duckenfield, will appear at Warrington Magistrates' Court on 9 August 2017.

BBassic said:

Justice, at long last.

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Prosecution is a very different thing to a conviction.

I'm not sure there will ever be justice here.

This looks like its going to focus more on the cover up than what happened on the actual day. Hopefully more that will all come out but given it was 28 years ago, the sands of time will obscure things.

BBassic said:

Justice, at long last.

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Charged, not convicted of course. Negligence is a complex area of law trying to distinguish between what is a mistake or human error, and what is negligence of duty.

The lies and deceit afterward maybe easier to prove than the negligence on the day, or the negligence of not having the safety certificates or implementing recommendations prior to the day as they are known and could be acted upon.

Duckenfield has previously been in front of a jury who couldn't reach a verdict on negligence, so it will be interesting whether new evidence and testimony is able to change that.

About bloody time

Lets hope that justice is now done, police at the highest level have to answer for the deaths of 96 people effectively in their care.

Should charge the many many ticketless fans as well.....Many scenarios contributed to this awful tragedy.

& the hundreds that must have been involved in altering statements?..