Hillsborough cop won’t give evidence

HILLSBOROUGH match commander David Duckenfield will not give evidence in his trial over the deaths of 95 Liverpool fans.

Opening his defence case, barrister Benjamin Myers QC told the jury at Preston Crown Court yesterday that Mr Duckenfield, 74, would not testify. instead, Mr Myers called statements from Bernard Murray, who was the chief superintendent’s deputy on the day and has since died.

Mr Duckenfield is on trial for gross negligence manslaughter alongside Graham Mackrell, 69, sheffield Wednesday’s safety officer at the time, who is accused of a safety offence. Both men deny the charges.

The trial follows a crush in the standingonly central pens of the Leppings Lane terrace during the Liverpool v Nottingham Forest FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989.

in a statement on May 2 that year, Mr Murray detailed a series of requests to ‘open the gates’ to relieve pressure at turnstiles, the court heard. The jury was then told of Mr Murray’s evidence to the 1989 Taylor inquiry. Asked where he thought those let in would go, he said he ‘never considered’ that.

Mr Mackrell was also not called to give evidence during his defence case. Jurors were told they would be directed to return a not guilty verdict for Mr Mackrell on a charge of contravening the stadium’s safety certificate due to ‘insufficient evidence’.

He remains on trial charged with failing to discharge a duty under the Health and safety at Work Act. The trial continues.