David Duckenfield, the former South Yorkshire Police chief superintendent in charge of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, has been found not guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans. The 75-year-old was cleared on Wednesday after a seven-week retrial at Preston Crown Court.
The match commander had been accused over the deaths of fans who were fatally injured in a crush on the Leppings Lane terrace during the FA Cup semi-final. In total, 96 people died, but no prosecution was possible over the death of the 96th victim, Tony Bland, because the law at the time prevented charges for deaths occurring more than a year and a day after injury.
The jury of seven women and three men returned the verdict after 13 hours and 43 minutes of deliberations, with gasps heard in court. Margaret Aspinall, whose 18-year-old son James died, asked: "The question I'd like to ask all of you and people within the system is who put 96 people in their graves, who is accountable?" Christine Burke, whose father Henry died, told the judge: "With all due respect, my lord, 96 people were found unlawfully killed to a criminal standard. I would like to know who is responsible for my father's death because someone is."
The prosecution had alleged that Mr Duckenfield bore "personal responsibility" for the disaster, having ordered the opening of exit gates at the Leppings Lane end eight minutes before kick-off after the area outside the turnstiles became dangerously overcrowded. More than 2,000 fans then entered through exit gate C, with many heading towards the tunnel leading to the central pens where the crush occurred. His defence counsel, Benjamin Myers QC, argued the case was "deeply unfair", saying his client had become "the focus of blame" despite "so many other people at fault, and so many causes".
A Crown Prosecution Service spokeswoman said the verdict did not affect the findings of the Hillsborough inquests, which ruled the victims had been unlawfully killed, and noted that "criminal proceedings have a very different purpose to an inquest". Mr Duckenfield's solicitor, Ian Lewis, said his client was relieved but his "thoughts and sympathies remain with the families", while asking for privacy for him and his family.
