Hillsborough families seek review

Hillsborough families will call for a review of the decision not to prosecute former police chief Sir Norman Bettison after the case against him was discontinued.

Sir Norman, 62, had been charged with four counts of misconduct in a public office, all relating to alleged lies he told following the disaster at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final in which 96 Liverpool fans died.

At a hearing before judge Sir Peter Openshaw at Preston Crown Court yesterday, prosecutor Sarah Whitehouse said the proceedings would be discontinued as there was no longer a realistic prospect of conviction. She said under the victims’ right of review process, those with a “significant” interest in the case had three months to seek a review.

Margaret Aspinall, chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: “We have grave concerns about the handling of this case by the CPS and can con- firm that we will be exercising our right to an independent review under the right to review scheme.

“It is our view that the wrong charge was brought in the first place and we will be using the review process to argue this point strongly.”

Lou Brookes, whose brother Andrew, 26, was one of the 96 victims, said: “I will certainly be pursuing my right to a review.” Sir Norman was a chief inspector in South Yorkshire Police at the time of the disaster.