Duckenfield has been ‘target of blame’, Hillsborough trial told
HILLSBOROUGH MATCH commander David Duckenfield has been a “target of blame”, his trial has heard.
Benjamin Myers QC, defending, told the jury at Preston Crown Court the prosecution case against the retired Chief Superintendent, who denies the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool supporters, was “unfair”.
Mr Myers continued his closing speech yesterday after judge Sir Peter Openshaw told the court one juror would be discharged due to a bereavement. The trial will carry on with a jury of 10, after another juror was discharged earlier this month.
Setting out the defence case to the remaining seven women and three men on the jury, Mr Myers said: “We do have to approach the evidence with balance and with fairness and fairness to David Duckenfield, that man who has been a target of blame for this for such a long time.”
He said the case was unfair because it singled out Duckenfield, 75, and applied different standards to him.
He told the court: “We say David Duckenfield did do what he was expected to do as match commander.”
He told the jury to consider the lack of experience of Duckenfield, who was promoted to the role less than three weeks before the FA Cup semifinal on April 15, 1989, and problems with the Sheffield Wednesday stadium.
Ninety-six men, women and children died when they were crushed by a sudden influx of late arrivals into crowded stands at the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.