Crash pilot is cleared over airshow tragedy
Shoreham Airshow crash pilot Andy Hill has been found not guilty of 11 charges of manslaughter by gross negligence after a lengthy trial.
Mr Hill, of Standon Road, Buntingford, Hertfordshire, had been flying a Hawker Hunter jet in 2015 when it crashed onto the A27.
Eleven men died in the tragedy. They were: Maurice Abrahams, 76, of Brighton; Dylan Archer, 42, of Brighton; Anthony Brightwell, 53, of Hove; Matthew Grimstone, 23, of Brighton; Matthew Jones, 24, of Littlehampton; Graham Mallinson, 72, of Newick; Daniele Polito, 23, of Goring; Mark Reeves, 53, of Seaford; Jacob Schilt, 23, of Brighton; Richard Smith, 26, of Hove and Mark Trussler, 54, of Worthing.
Mr Hill’s defence team had argued that Hill may have suffered a form of cognitive impairment and was not in control of the plane.
Following the verdict at the Old Bailey on Friday, the detective in the investigation into the tragedy said police ‘respect the decision’ of the jury.
Speaking outside court, senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Jon Fanner said: “It has been a long, complex and unique investigation and I am aware that it has touched the lives, both personally and professionally, of hundreds of us in Sussex Police and indeed, our colleagues in Surrey.
“Throughout the last threeand-a-half years we have sought to find answers for the families and friends of those who died and I hope that this trial has gone some way towards doing that.
“The jury sat for nearly two months, considered the vast amount of evidence that was presented to them and heard of Mr Hill’s many years of experience as a pilot.”
Det Insp Fanner said it was ‘clearly appropriate’ to bring charges, and for Mr Hill to stand trial.
He added: “Their view is that he is not guilty of the charges that we brought against him and we respect their decision.”
For a quarter of a century, the Shoreham Airshow had been held in aid of the Royal Air Forces Association, raising more than £1million.
On Tuesday, Shoreham Airshow organiser Colin Baker extended his condolences to the victims’ families and said organisers would await the conclusion of the inquest before considering the event’s future.
A statement issued on behalf of senior coroner for West Sussex Penelope Schofield said a pre-inquest review would be held on April 8 to determine the next steps in resuming proceedings.
The inquest had been put on hold while the trial was held.
Lawers Irwin Mitchell represent 17 people affected by the tragedy, including victims’ families and those who were injured. It said the end of the trial was ‘just the next step’ in their clients’ search for answers.
Councillor Neil Parkin, leader of Adur District Council, said the events of 2015 would ‘always remain a tragedy’. “My thoughts are with the families of those who died, as well as the first responders and everyone who was affected by the incident.”