Hillsborough trio to finally stand trial

THE trial of two former South Yorkshire police chiefs and a solicitor in connection with the Hillsborough disaster is finally due to begin today after a threemonth delay.

Former Chief Superintendent Donald Denton and former Detective Chief Inspector Alan Foster face charges of perverting the course of justice in the aftermath of the tragedy which saw 96 Liverpool fans lose their lives in a crush at Sheffield Wednesday’s ground. The solicitor for the force in 1989, Peter Metcalf, is charged with the same offence.

The trial will take place at the Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays, near Manchester, having been delayed from January.

It will be heard by Mr Justice William Davis following a criminal investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

The three defendants, Denton, from Sheffield, Foster, from

Harrogate, and Metcalf, from Ilkley, face allegations related to the changing of statements following the tragedy at the FA Cup semifinal.

The men were all charged in 2017.

It comes just days after the 32nd anniversary of the disaster, which was caused by overcrowding in the Leppings Lane stand before the Liverpool vs Nottingham Forest game started. Ninety-four fans died on the day, one died the next day, and a final victim died in 1993.

The first inquests in 1991 ruled that all the deaths were accidental but following a 20-year campaign by the families of the victims, a second inquiry was launched which found that all were unlawfully killed.

The police commander of the match, David Duckenfield, was found not guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 of the victims in 2019.