Fury over £2m cost of Hillsborough trial

Cost is a disgrace says mother of fan, 18

THE failed prosecution of the police chief in charge during the Hillsborough disaster cost taxpayers almost £2million.

Match commander Supt David Duckenfield faced two trials last year and the bill will be swollen by many millions more by the cost of his defence, police time and court time.

Mr Duckenfield was found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans who died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.

Margaret Aspinall, who lost her son James, 18, and is chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: “The amount spent is a disgrace and there’s still no justice. All this

PAIN Mum Margaret taxpayers’ money and still no one has been held to account. What’s happened to the families is an insult and a disgrace.”

The prosecution alleged Mr Duckenfield, 75, had a “personal responsibility” for what

OUR PLEDGE Liverpool fans’ campaign banner happened at the game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest – at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough stadium.

The tragedy saw 96 men, women and children die after a crush on the Leppings Lane

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TRIAL Mirror Page One terrace. The prosecution involved all but one fan, who died more than a year after the horror. The Attorney General’s

Office was asked the cost of the case by Tory Sir Christopher Chope, Mr Duckenfield’s constituency MP.

In a reply, staff referred to the case against him and Sheffield Wednesday’s Graham Mackrell, 69, who was fined £6,500 for a health and safety offence.

A statement said: “This was a complex and harrowing case. Every effort was made to build a robust case. The CPS estimates the cost for the prosecution of both to be £1.97million.

“The CPS cannot comment on costs incurred by police, courts, tribunal or any

other partners.”

IN CHARGE Ex-cop David Duckenfield