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Hillsborough Inquests
Ninety-six people were fatally injured in a crush at the match in 1989
Six men, including four former senior police officers, have been charged with offences relating to the Hillsborough disaster and its aftermath.
Ninety-six Liverpool fans were fatally injured in a crush during an FA Cup semi-final at Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium on 15 April 1989.
The six charged in relation to what happened are:
David Duckenfield
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Reuters
Former Ch Supt David Duckenfield was South Yorkshire Police’s match commander at Hillsborough and will face charges of the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 of the victims.
He gave the order to open exit gate C at the ground following a build-up of Liverpool fans trying to enter the ground outside the Leppings Lane turnstiles.
It is alleged that the opening of the gate led directly to the fatal crush in the central pens of the terraces behind the goal.
The FA Cup semi-final was the first football match the newly-promoted Mr Duckenfield had taken control of.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has said it will allege that Mr Duckenfield’s « failures to discharge his personal responsibility were extraordinarily bad and contributed substantially to the deaths ».
As the law at the time of the disaster has to be applied in charging decisions, he cannot be charged over the death of the 96th victim, Anthony Bland.
Mr Bland died almost four years after he was injured in the crush and a charge would have required his death to have occurred within one year and one day of him receiving those original injuries.
The CPS added that in order to charge Mr Duckenfield, they would need to apply to the High Court to remove the stay of prosecution imposed at the end of a 1999 private prosecution.
Graham Mackrell
Graham Mackrell was the company secretary at Sheffield Wednesday at the time of the disaster.
His role gave him responsibility for the overall control of safety at the club’s stadium, Hillsborough.
Defects at the ground, including calculations over crowd capacity, allegedly contributed to the disaster.
He has been charged with two offences of contravening a term of condition of a safety certificate contrary to the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975 and one offence of failing to take reasonable care for the health and safety of other persons who may have been affected by his acts or omissions at work under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
Peter Metcalf
Peter Metcalf was the solicitor for South Yorkshire Police during 1989’s Taylor Inquiry, which looked at what had happened at Hillsborough, and during the first inquest into the fans’ deaths, the verdict of which was quashed in 2012.
An experienced solicitor, he was instructed by Municipal Mutual Insurance to represent the interests of the force at the inquiry and in any civil litigation that might result from the disaster.
He has been charged with perverting the course of justice.
The CPS said the charge relates to material changes made to witness statements.
It is alleged he reviewed accounts provided by the officers and made suggestions for alterations, deletions and amendments.
Donald Denton
Former Ch Supt Donald Denton was a senior South Yorkshire Police officer who, it is alleged, oversaw the process of amending officers’ statements following the disaster.
He has been charged with perverting the course of justice.
Alan Foster
Alan Foster was a detective chief inspector with South Yorkshire Police at the time of the Hillsborough disaster.
The CPS claimed he was « central to the process of changing the statements and took action to do so ».
He has been charged with perverting the course of justice.
Sir Norman Bettison
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PA
Sir Norman Bettison was a chief inspector with South Yorkshire Police at the time of the Hillsborough disaster, which he witnessed as a spectator in the ground.
In the aftermath, he was part of a police team that gathered evidence about what had happened for use at at the Taylor Inquiry.
He went on to become chief constable of Merseyside Police and West Yorkshire Police.
He has been charged with four offences of misconduct in public office.
The CPS said the charges relate to alleged lies about his involvement in the aftermath of Hillsborough and the culpability of fans.