London: The police commander in charge of operations at the 1989 Hillsborough soccer stadium crush that killed 96 Liverpool supporters has been found not guilty of manslaughter.
Former Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield was in charge of the stadium in Sheffield, northern England, at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest 30 years ago.
Former police commander David Duckenfield was found not guilty of manslaughter.Credit:AP
The victims died in an overcrowded, fenced-in enclosure. Harrowing images of young fans crushed against metal fences, bodies lying on the pitch and spectators using wooden advertising hoardings as makeshift stretchers horrified the nation.
Police at first blamed the disaster on drunken fans, an explanation that was always rejected by survivors, relatives of the victims and the wider Liverpool community who spent years fighting to find out what had happened.
Later inquests and an independent inquiry absolved the fans of any responsibility. The latest verdict came in a re-trial at Preston Crown Court after a jury in April had initially failed to come to a verdict.
"I'm shocked and stunned by the verdict of the jury," said Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher died aged 18 in the disaster.
"We, the families, have fought for 30 years valiantly," he told the BBC.
Barry Devonside, who lost his son in the tragedy, said he was stunned by the verdict.Credit:Getty Images
Mike Bendown, Director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct, said they recognised the verdict would be of huge significance for the families of the 96 victims.
"As there are still live criminal proceedings relating to the disaster we will not be commenting further at this time," he added, urging people not to prejudice those cases with comments online.
Britain's Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it was aware the verdict would be disappointing for the relatives.
"The disaster at Hillsborough 30 years ago has caused unimaginable suffering to the families of those who sadly lost their lives and to everybody affected by the tragic events of that day," said Sue Hemming, CPS Director of Legal Services.
"They were let down with the most catastrophic consequences imaginable. I know how important these proceedings have been to everyone, even though they came far too late."
Graham Mackrell, the Sheffield Wednesday club secretary at the time of the disaster, was found guilty of a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act, in the previous trial.
Former South Yorkshire Police chief superintendent Donald Denton, the force's detective chief inspector Alan Foster and Peter Metcalf are scheduled to stand trial on charges of perverting the course of justice next year.
Reuters
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