{"id":138359,"date":"2019-11-29T00:28:40","date_gmt":"2019-11-28T21:28:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dailymail.co.uk\/news\/article-7735833\/Hillsborough-match-commander-David-Duckenfield-CLEARED-manslaughter.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490"},"modified":"2019-11-29T00:28:40","modified_gmt":"2019-11-28T21:28:40","slug":"david-duckenfield-found-not-guilty-of-hillsborough-manslaughter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wardoon.net\/so\/david-duckenfield-found-not-guilty-of-hillsborough-manslaughter\/","title":{"rendered":"David Duckenfield found not guilty of Hillsborough manslaughter"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"David<\/div>\n

\"David<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

David Duckenfield was the police match commander on the day of the Hillsborough disaster, which led to the deaths of 96 fans. He was cleared of manslaughter today<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Over the last thirty years \u00a360million has been spent, five separate jury court cases have taken place, and still no one has been found responsible for the unlawful killing of 96 football fans at Hillsborough.<\/p>\n

The pain of Hillsborough families was palpable today as they asked ‘how can nobody be held responsible?’ after David Duckenfield, the police match commander on the day the disaster, was cleared of manslaughter. <\/span><\/p>\n

Duckenfield ordered the opening of a gate which led to a surge of Liverpool fans into the central pen of the Leppings Lane terrace at Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium on April 15, 1989.<\/p>\n

There was no way out, meaning those inside the already dangerously-packed enclosure were forced up against a fence behind the goal, leading to the deaths of 96 fans.<\/p>\n

The case against Duckenfield, now aged 75, was that he failed to see the dangers and didn’t fast enough to avert the worst football stadium disaster in history.<\/p>\n

After a \u00a360million criminal investigation and a first trial which failed to reach a verdict, a jury at a retrial found him not guilty of 95 counts of gross negligence manslaughter today. <\/p>\n

Speaking at a press conference after the verdict was returned, Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James was killed, asked: ‘How can 96 people be unlawfully killed but no-one be responsible?’  <\/p>\n

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Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James was killed, asked: ‘How can 96 people be unlawfully killed but no-one be responsible?’<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Christine<\/div>\n

\"Christine<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Christine<\/div>\n

\"Christine<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Christine Burke, whose father Henry died in the disaster, asked the judge: ‘Who is responsible for my father’s death because someone is?’<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Hillsborough disaster claimed the lives of 96 Liverpool fans. The death of one fan, Tony Bland, was not included in the charges of the trial as he died to late for his death to be linked to the case under the laws of the time<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Mary<\/div>\n

\"Mary<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Mary Corrigan, whose 17 year old son Keith McGrath was killed in the disaster, reacts during a press conference at the Cunard Building after former South Yorkshire police chief superintendent David Duckenfield was found not guilty of manslaughter at Preston Crown Court<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Duckenfield’s ‘terrible lie’ that gate was forced came out in second trial<\/h3>\n
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A ‘terrible lie’ told by Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield was said to have ‘no significance’ in his first trial, but became key evidence in his retrial.<\/p>\n

The court heard that in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, Duckenfield told Football Association boss Graham Kelly and his press chief Glen Kirton that a gate at the ground had been forced.<\/p>\n

He did not tell them he had authorised the opening of the exit gates, allowing crowds outside to enter and head down a tunnel to the central pens of the terrace, where the fatal crush happened.<\/p>\n

In his evidence at inquests into the deaths in 2015, Duckenfield admitted it had been a ‘terrible lie’ and apologised ‘unreservedly’ to the families.<\/p>\n

But, the jury in the first trial, did not hear that evidence.<\/p>\n

In the second trial, Richard Matthews QC, prosecuting, told jurors in the opening speech about the ‘very misleading’ comments.<\/p>\n

He said: ‘The prosecution allege it is evidence that David Duckenfield had realised he had at least some personal responsibility for what had happened that led to the deaths.’ <\/p>\n

Benjamin Myers QC, defending, cautioned against using the lie as a ‘shortcut to conviction’.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Mrs Aspinall added: ‘I blame a system that’s so morally wrong within this country, that’s a disgrace to this nation.<\/p>\n

‘When 96 people, they say 95, we say 96, are unlawfully killed and yet not one person is accountable.’<\/p>\n

In court, Christine Burke, the daughter of victim Henry, had stood in the public gallery and addressed the judge.<\/p>\n

She said: ‘With all due respect, my lord, 96 people were found unlawfully killed to a criminal standard.’<\/p>\n

Bursting into tears, she went on: ‘I would like to know who is responsible for my father’s death because someone is.’ <\/p>\n

In an emotional courtroom, one of the female jurors walked out in tears as the jury filed out of the courtroom and Duckenfield’s wife, Ann, went over to comfort her husband. <\/p>\n

Other family members watched on a video relay of the courtroom played in the Cunard building in Liverpool. <\/p>\n

One victim’s relative shouted: ‘Stitched up again,’ as the verdicts were returned. <\/p>\n

Speaking after the verdict, Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher, 18, died in the disaster, said: ‘I’m shocked and stunned by the verdict of the jury. We, the families, have fought for 30 years valiantly.’<\/p>\n

Other speakers at the emotional press conference included Brenda Fox, who lost her son Steve, Steve Kelly, who lost his brother Mike, Mary Corrigan, who lost her 17-year-old son Keith McGrath, and John Traynor who lost his brothers Kevin and Chris.<\/p>\n

Brenda Fox thanked the solicitors for helping the families to get individual inquests for all the victims while Steve Kelly claimed he was not surprised by the decision made today.<\/p>\n

Brenda Fox thanked the solicitors for helping the families to get individual inquests for all the victims while Steve Kelly claimed he was not surprised by the decision made today.<\/p>\n

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\"Liz<\/div>\n

\"Liz<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Liz Traynor, whose husband Christopher Traynor, 26, and brother-in-law Martin Kevin Traynor, 16, were killed in the disaster, cries during a press conference after the verdict<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The case centred on the decision to open this gate, which was usually used to allow fans to exit the stadium after matches. When it was opened, around 2,000 extra fans flooded into the ground, with many then becoming caught up in the crush inside the terrace<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\"Duckenfield,<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Duckenfield, then a Chief Superintendent, is pictured shortly after the disaster<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Mr Kelly said: ‘I believe the die was cast years ago so today’s decision comes as no surprise.<\/p>\n

‘Duckenfield was the man, everyone turned to him for direction and he was nowhere to be seen. The people around him required guidance.<\/p>\n

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Duckenfield was threatened with violence and hummed throughout his retrial due to his PTSD, it has emerged<\/h3>\n
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Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield hummed to himself in court, was threatened with physical violence and had a juror threaten to kill him, it has emerged.<\/p>\n

At a hearing in July to decide whether he should face a retrial, his counsel Benjamin Myers QC told the court there had been threats to the former chief superintendent, including a letter.<\/p>\n

He said: ‘The letter that was sent was very chilling.’<\/p>\n

In the retrial, a jury was almost dismissed after it emerged one juror had wished the defendant dead.<\/p>\n

The man was discharged early in November after saying ‘Dick**** Duckenfield must die.’<\/p>\n

The ruling from the judge was that the trial should continue.<\/p>\n

During the retrial it has emerged that Duckenfield would hum to himself when he heard details about the tragedy at the FA Cup semi-final.<\/p>\n

Jurors were told  not to draw adverse inference from his ‘expressionless’ presentation during the case as it could be due to his post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).<\/p>\n

In legal argument about his ability to give evidence in the first trial, psychiatrist Professor Chris Fox said Duckenfield had reported humming in court when he felt angry.<\/p>\n

He said: ‘Instead of shouting ‘that’s not true’… humming is a way of coping with that.<\/p>\n

‘He tries to take himself out of that (situation) before he causes a disturbance in court, potentially.’<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

‘He sought to find scapegoats for his own dithering.<\/p>\n

‘We are forever cheated.<\/p>\n

‘God bless the 96.’<\/p>\n

Mary Corrigan said: ‘The only fighting was the supporters fighting for their lives and the only ones helping them were other supporters who were grabbing their hands and getting them over onto the pitch.<\/p>\n

‘This man has been so completely protected, it’s unreal what has happened today, it’s so cruel to all of us.<\/p>\n

‘I haven’t been able to grieve my son because I have been so preoccupied with campaigning to try and get justice.<\/p>\n

‘The whole thing has been corrupt, evidence has been shelved.<\/p>\n

‘We have all been shunted today.<\/p>\n

‘But now there is no more gagging order, we will not be quiet.’<\/p>\n

John Traynor, whose brothers Christopher, 26, and Kevin, 16, died at Hillsborough, said: ‘The family members that you see here today are still suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, broken hearts and minds and today’s decision has just devastated all of us, just adding further insult to injury.’<\/p>\n

In a statement after the verdict, Ian Lewis, solicitor for Duckenfield, said: ‘David is of course relieved that the jury has found him not guilty, however his thoughts and sympathies remain with the families of those who lost their loved ones. <\/p>\n

‘He understands the public interest in this case, but would ask that his privacy and that of his family is respected, and will not be commenting further.’<\/p>\n

Ninety-six men, women and children died following the crush on the terrace but, under the law at the time, there could be no prosecution for the death of the 96th victim Tony Bland as he died more than a year and a day after the disaster. <\/p>\n

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\"Duckenfield<\/div>\n

\"Duckenfield<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Duckenfield was in the police control box when the decision was given to open the exit gate<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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A picture shows the crammed central pen of the Leppings Lane end as the tragedy unfolded<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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What was the case against Duckenfield?<\/h3>\n
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Prosecutors claimed Duckenfield committed gross negligence manslaughter by:<\/p>\n