Hillsborough police chief to face trial
THE most senior officer policing the Hillsborough stadium disaster must now face a criminal trial over the tragedy, a judge ruled yesterday.
Retired South Yorkshire Police Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, now 73, was granted a stay of prosecution back in 2000 after a previous civil case.
That “stay” – granted by Mr Justice Hooper at Leeds Crown Court – prevented him from being charged over the 1989 stadium disaster.
But after a judge lifted that 18-year-old order, he will now face trial for the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 of the 96 Liverpool supporters who died.
He cannot be prosecuted over the death of 96th victim Tony Bland, due to the laws that existed at the time, because he died in hospital a year after the disastrous FA Cup semi-final.
Refused
Mr Duckenfield has not yet formally been charged over the 95 manslaughters, but is expected to be by a judge in court next week.
On Friday at Preston Crown Court, Mr Justice Sir Peter Openshaw lifted the stay which allowed the prosecution against him for manslaughter to proceed.
Four other defendants – who were already charged over the tragedy – also saw their requests for a stay in their impending trials refused.
Mr Duckenfield is set go on trial in September alongside Graham Mackrell, 68, the former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary, who is charged with an offence involving the stadium safety certificate and a health and safety offence.
Three other defendants – retired police officers Donald Denton, 80, and Alan Foster, 71, and retired solicitor Peter Metcalf, 68, who acted for South Yorkshire Police following the disaster – are scheduled to go on trial in January.
They are each charged with two offences of perverting the course of justice, relating to amendments made to police officers’ statements following the tragedy.
The judge also allowed the prosecution of Mackrell, Denton, Foster and Metcalf to proceed.
It is presently scheduled for January next year.
About 10 relatives of the 96 Liverpool fans were in court yesterday to hear the ruling, while others watched the proceedings on a video link in Liverpool. A hearing for a sixth Hillsborough defendant, Sir Norman Bettison, has been adjourned until August 21.
Sir Norman was a chief inspector at South Yorkshire Police in 1989 and is charged with four counts of misconduct in a public office over alleged post-tragedy false statements.
Sir Norman, 62 – the former chief constable of Merseyside Police and also of West Yorkshire Police – faces trial in May 2019.
The five charged defendants, which so far excludes Mr Duckenfield, previously indicated in court that they denied all the allegations against them.
A case management hearing for the case of Duckenfield and Mackrell is due to be held next Monday.