Families celebrate as match commander David Duckenfield faces MANSLAUGHT...

Six charged over the Hillsborough disaster



Families of the 96 Hillsborough disaster victims applauded and punched the air today as their three-decade campaign for justice saw criminal charges brought against six people – including a police chief who faces 95 counts of manslaughter.

Retired David Duckenfield, 72, who was the match day commander during the 1989 FA Cup semi final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest FC, is to be prosecuted over the deaths of 95 men, women and children 28 years ago.

He has been charged with the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 of the 96 disaster victims, with the CPS unable to charge the manslaughter of Anthony Bland, the 96th casualty, because he died almost four years later.

Former South Yorkshire Police Chief Inspector Sir Norman Bettison is being prosecuted over alleged lies in the aftermath, while two other officers, a solicitor for the force and Sheffield Wednesday FC's safety officer are also charged with offences.

Relatives of the victims were told of the decision at 11am this morning, with some quietly punching the air and showing smiles of relief as they left a meeting in Warrington.

Asked what the reaction in the room was, Barry Devonside, whose 18-year-old son Christopher died in the disaster, said: 'Everybody applauded'



He added: 'It is only right and proper that we fought for our loved ones. We did that through the courts of law when we achieved the unlawful killing verdict and we've done it again today.'

No organisation will face corporate charges, nor will any prosecution be brought against those from the ambulance service, but four other individuals are still being investigated.

Gross negligence manslaughter carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, although court guidelines suggest much lower terms.

It comes after a new inquest into the tragedy ruled in April 2016 that the Liverpool fans who died had been unlawfully killed.



The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Duckenfield's 'failures' were 'extraordinarily bad' and 'contributed substantially' to the loss of life.

He has been charged with the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 of the 96 disaster victims, with the CPS unable to charge the manslaughter of Anthony Bland, the 96th casualty, because he died almost four years later.

Duckenfield was not at home at his bungalow in Ferndown, Dorset, when the charges were announced.

Charges will also be brought against:

Sir Norman Bettison faces four charges of misconduct in a public office relating to alleged lies he told in the aftermath about the culpability of fans;

Graham Mackrell, who was Sheffield Wednesday Football Club’s company secretary and safety officer at the time, is accused of breaching Health and Safety and Safety at Sports Ground legislation;

Peter Metcalf, the solicitor acting for the South Yorkshire Police during the Taylor Inquiry and the first inquests, is charged with perverting the course of Justice, relating to changes to witness statements;

Former Chief Superintendent Donald Denton of South Yorkshire Police is charged with perverting the course of justice;

Former Detective Chief Inspector Alan Foster of South Yorkshire Police is also accused of perverting the course of justice.

All of the suspects, with the exception of Duckenfield, will appear before Warrington Magistrates' Court on August 9.

The four other individuals still facing possible charges include two officers from West Midlands Police, one from South Yorkshire Police and a contractor from the force.

The latter two relate to a falsified claim about a police horse being burnt by a cigarette outside of the stadium.

Sue Hemming, the CPS Head of Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, made the announcement about charges to families of the deceased at a private meeting in Warrington this morning.

She said: 'Following our careful review of the evidence, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, I have decided that there is sufficient evidence to charge six individuals with criminal offences.



'Criminal proceedings have now commenced and the defendants have a right to a fair trial. It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.'

Mr Devonside, who drove to the match with his son, a student from Formby, Merseyside, said after the announcement: It’s been very, very hard. My son would have been 46.

'I'm absolutely delighted. We've got today everything we could have asked for. The decision by the CPS is in my opinion correct and we look forward to the due process for court of law.'

Asked what was going through his mind when the decision was read out he said: 'I was frightened, absolutely frightened that we were going to be let down again.