The manslaughter retrial of the former South Yorkshire police officer in charge of the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough has heard that he previously admitted lying in the immediate aftermath about the cause of the crush that killed 96 people. David Duckenfield, a Police Chief Superintendent, who has been accused of the death of 96 people in the tragic incident of the Hillsborough disaster, was found not guilty in charge of manslaughter. The police officer had joined South Yorkshire Police as a cadet at the age of 16, been appointed a constable in 1963 and rapidly rose through the ranks. Current Eurosport commentator Carlton Kirby announced that Duffield had died via. Jimmy Hennessey, a 29-year-old, had negligible medical attention and was placed in a body bag while still alive. He is survived by his wife, Jackie, andby his brother, Eddie. Four other individuals are also facing prosecution. The jury at the inquests returned a verdict of unlawful killing, reversing the 1990 ruling of accidental deaths. Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield, who is accused of the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 Liverpool supporters at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final, arriving Preston Crown Court. After Duckenfield mentioned the contribution in the police control room of Bernard Murray, who was a superintendent but has since died, Menon asked him if he was seeking to blame other people. David Duckenfield, who is now 75, has been on trial accused of causing the deaths of 95 Liverpool fans who died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final in Sheffield - the UK's worst sporting disaster. The former match commander's solicitor, Ian Lewis, 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. About 45 family members watched the verdict from the Cunard building. I blame cops for not questioning their own training more than anything else I could question them for. Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Former South Yorkshire Police Chief Superintendent promoted just 19 days before disaster, Find your bookmarks in your Independent Premium section, under my profile. In the late 1950s he specialised in the arcane field of tricycle racing, setting records for 100 miles and the Lands End to John OGroats distance, the latter in a time of three days, 12 hours and 15 minutes. But a turning point came on the 20th anniversary of the crush, when Labour minister Andy Burnham was booed and heckled after speaking to thousands of fans gathered at Anfield. He agreed with Michael Mansfield QC, representing 75 families whose relatives were killed in the lethal crush, that he was practising and persisted in a far-reaching deceit on the day, by lying to Football Association and football club officials about his actions. Joel Richards. Former Eurosport commentator and British cycling luminary David Duffield died aged 84 on Sunday as a result of a heavy fall. The seven women and three men. More than 2,000 fans then entered through exit gate C, with many heading for the tunnel ahead of them, which led to the central pens of the terrace where the crush happened. They live with the misery every day. Ex-chief constable Sir Norman Bettison, is accused of four counts of misconduct in public office. The new inquest concluded in April last year, finding that 96 Liverpool fans were unlawfully killed and exonerated the victims of any wrongdoing. Read about our approach to external linking. As president, Duckenfield focuses on new business development, strategic management of client accounts and day-to-day management of the firm. Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Up to 20% off and extra perks with Booking.com Genius membership, 10% off all orders of 100+ and this Soak & Sleep discount code, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK January 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this January, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Her adult life has been dominated by the quest to find the truth about her father and gain justice for him. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. This is because he died more than a year and a day after his injuries were caused. A spokeswoman for the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said the verdict did not affect the findings of the Hillsborough inquests, which ruled the victims had been unlawfully killed. Christine Burke, whose father Henry Burke was killed in the disaster, stood in the public gallery and addressed the judge after the verdict was read out. Who is accountable?. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Duckenfield, who lives in Dorset, joined South Yorkshire Police as a cadet aged 16, and was appointed a police constable in 1963. On the day of the tragedy, Duckenfield, now 72, was working as match commander for the game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Sheffield Wednesday stadium. $145k AVERAGE INCOME Our wealth data indicates income average is $145k. David A. Duckenfield is the President and a partner at Balsera Communications where he provides leadership and counsel across the agencys diverse practice areas. The crown's case was that the Chief Superintendent's failings were so extraordinary that they met that test. Ex-police chief faces charge over Hillsborough disaster, {{ #verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ ^verifyErrors }}Something went wrong. The prosecution case, Matthews said, is that as the senior officer in command, Duckenfield bore personal responsibility for the failings, in the face of what was both a serious and obvious risk of death. But. The majority verdict from the jury at Preston Crown Court marks a big setback for the bereaved families who have campaigned for justice over the past 30 years. Despite this, the retired officer was able to walk away last week in the face of overwhelming evidence and his own admissions. Duckenfield then lied and told FA executives that fans had broken in to the stadium. David Duckenfield denies the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 fans David Duckenfield would have been able to handle the match commander role at Hillsborough if he had prepared "fully and. Why should anyone care about Hillsborough? Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool supporters. I suspect, however, that the lynch mob is working on their noose tying as I type. David Duckenfield, 75, walked free from court after jurors agreed he could not be held criminally responsible for the tragedy Credit: Peter Byrne/PA A retired South Yorkshire police chief has. A distinctive figure thanks to his lanky build and enthusiastic mannerisms, he commentated on the international cycling calendar for Eurosport until he was well into his 70s, sometimes solo, sometimes accompanied by a retired star such as Sean Kelly or Stephen Roche. The jury at Mr Duckenfield's original trial earlier this year failed to agree a verdict. He acknowledged that even after he said he realised, at 3:04pm on the day, that he was facing a medical emergency not an incident of disorder, he called for police dogs to come to the ground, not ambulances. Liverpool FC said it shared "the reactions and frustrations by the families today and those affected by the Hillsborough tragedy". Mamba80 says he was put in an impossible position, he wasn't, he was asked to take the role and despite his lack of experience he accepted, rather than put his hands up and admit he'd be out of his depth. 67% He admitted everything at the 2015 inquests into the disaster, saying that his professional failings led to the deaths of 96 innocent men, women and children. VideoChess gets a risqu makeover, The Nigerian influencers paid to manipulate your vote, How a baffling census delay is hurting Indians, How Mafia boss was caught at a clinic after 30 years. The court heard he had ordered the opening of exit gates at the Leppings Lane end of the ground at 14:52 BST on 15 April 1989 - eight minutes before kick-off, after the area outside the turnstiles became dangerously overcrowded. Assistant Commissioner Rob Beckley, who was in overall command of Operation Resolve - the criminal inquiry into the disaster, acknowledged the jury "had a difficult and challenging task". Anyone who watched cycling on Eurosport during the 1990s and 2000s. Sue Hemming, head of the Crown Prosecution Services special crime division, said the charge could not relate to the 96th victim of the disaster, Anthony Bland, as he died almost four years later. Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. The only effective way to ensure this sort of scenario is not repeated is accountability. David Duckenfield was police match commander at the Hillsborough disaster; He went on trial for gross negligence manslaughter over the deaths of fans; Following a retrial, he was cleared today . The not guilty verdict today does not affect or alter the inquest jurys findings of unlawful killing or their conclusion that Liverpool fans were in no way responsible for the 96 deaths that resulted., Hillsborough victims: the 96 people whose lives were cut short, Original reporting and incisive analysis, direct from the Guardian every morning. The former South Yorkshire Police chief superintendent, 75, was in charge of the FA Cup semi-final in which 96 fans were fatally injured. David Duckenfield is one of six people to be charged with manslaughter over the deaths resulting from the disaster which claimed the lives of 96 fans. He is among six individuals facing prosecution over the disaster. Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Peter Metcalf, the solicitor acting for the South Yorkshire Police during the Taylor Inquiry and the first inquests - charged with doing acts with intent to pervert the course of justice relating to changes made to witness statements. He is fluent in Spanish and proficient in Portuguese. Duckenfields acquittal underlines that no one has been held responsible for Hillsborough. There were gasps in court as the seven women and three men on the jury returned the verdict, following 13 hours and 43 minutes of discussions. Relatives and friends of the victims were gathered at the Cunard Building on Liverpool's waterfront when the verdict was announced. Road David Duffield dies aged 84 - News Shorts By Cycling News published 22 February 2016 Castroviejo fractures vertebrae, Oli Cookson joins Dimension Data, Roglic surprises LottoNL-Jumbo at. Its 2012 report decried the blame wrongly attributed to fans, causing Prime Minister David Cameron to apologise for the double injustice in the House of Commons. Mr Burnham said he had already been working on a disclosure of Hillsborough files that sparked the creation of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, but the incident brought the disaster back to the government, and countrys attention. Reaction as David Duckenfield is cleared of manslaughter, argued the case against him was "deeply unfair", German police deny Greta's detainment was staged, Germany: We are no longer reliant on Russian energy, Jeremy Renner TV show poster edited after accident, US porn star declared unfit for sex crimes trial, Keep cake away from office, says food adviser, Maximum two drinks a week, Canada guidance advises, President's sons fall out over sale of a plane. The prosecution of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield was "breathtakingly unfair" as he was made to take the blame for others, a jury has heard. The families watching in a conference room in Liverpool were aghast. The verdict came in a retrial at Preston crown court that began on 7 October. Barry Devonside leaves Parr Hall, Warrington, where the Crown Prosecution Service has said, Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield, former chief constable Sir Norman Bettison and four other individuals have been charged with offences relating to the Hillsborough disaster. He ended up working as an announcer at major events such as the round Britain Milk Race, sometimes forming a double act with the multiple world champion Hugh Porter. Addressing the families in the court he said: It has now dawned on me what it means to you, and I am dreadfully sorry.. David Duckenfield, who was the chief superintendent in charge of the game between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, told FA officials at 3.15pm that "a gate had been forced and there had been an. Duckenfield, now 75, was the match commander when a crush at the FA Cup semifinal tie between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest led to the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans. While at State, Duckenfield also led the Departments efforts to engage with Americans and global audiences on the administrations policy changes towards Cuba announced on December 17, 2014 by President Obama. Retreating into relative obscurity in Dorset until the launch of a fresh inquest in 2014, Mr Duckenfield is believed to be a keen golfer and apparently resorted to booking a taxi in a false name to evade reporters at Heathrow Airport last year. Sir, it is now that I have thought very seriously about the families, Duckenfield said, explaining that the video was the most moving thing he had ever seen, and that it had shown him what it means to a mother to lose a loved one. Go to. Openshaw did not respond, turned to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) barrister Christine Agnew QC and said there were matters to sort out, and the court was cleared. The prosecution alleged that Duckenfields failure to identify hazards at the turnstiles, monitor the numbers waiting to come in, relieve the pressures outside, monitor the numbers in the central pens and direct people away from the tunnel and central pens amounted to gross negligence. The events of 15 April 1989 have been considered on a number of occasions, including at the second inquest concluding in 2016. Duckenfield admitted at the 2014-16 inquests into the disaster, Matthews said, that he was responsible for a serious failure when he did not take steps to close a tunnel inside the Leppings Lane concourse, which led to the crowded central pens of the terrace. Simultaneously he worked as a marketing man in the then buoyant British cycle industry, helping to publicise the radical small-wheeled Moulton bike, one of the defining designs of the 60s. The 96 who lost their lives in the disaster, Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Police among six to be charged over Hillsborough disaster. He has over 20 years experience in public diplomacy, corporate and marketing communications, brand building, crisis communications and public policy. In 1993, dismayed families sought a judicial review of the inquest, which was eventually rejected. Relatives of seven of the 96 people killed were in the public seats in Preston, and many more watched in Liverpool. He was suspended from duty after the first public inquiry in 1989, retiring from South Yorkshire Police two years later with an index-linked pension reportedly worth 23,000 a year. I know how important these proceedings have been to everyone, even though they came far too late. Mr Duckenfield has been a key focus of repeated investigations and inquiries into the Hillsborough disaster, as survivors and families of the victims fought a gruelling 28-year battle for justice. Former South Yorkshire Police match commander David Duckenfield is currently on trial for the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans. He has over 20 years experience in public diplomacy, corporate and marketing communications, brand building, crisis communications and public policy. According to the law in 1989, a criminal charge relating to a death could not be brought if the victim died longer than a year and a day after the acts that allegedly caused it. Men, women and children were crushed on the Leppings Lane terrace. "We say that is unfair, there are so many other people at fault, and so many causes," the barrister added. Duckenfield, 75, denies the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool supporters who died following the crush on the Leppings Lane turnstiles. Given all the covering up and lying that has gone on, together with all the pain caused by the media (and The Sun in particular) misreporting the whole affair, I suppose the question is : Should Duckenfield be used as a scapegoat or 'lightening conductor' for everything that has gone on? David Duckenfield PRESIDENT + PARTNER David A. Duckenfield is the President and a partner at Balsera Communications where he provides leadership and counsel across the agency's diverse practice areas. I seem to remember an accident where experienced rail workmen got run over by a works carriage rolling downhill. David Duckenfield was promoted to his role as Chief Superintendent just 19 days before the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough. He was asked whether he thought over the last 26 years about the bereaved families, who according to their barrister, Rajiv Menon QC waged a courageous and unrelenting campaign that culminated in 2012 with the quashing of the first inquests. That cowardly deceit set the tone for everything that followed. He went on to say that Duckenfield had agreed it was a mistake at 2.30pm, when the turnstiles crush was building, not to have have taken steps to find out how many people had yet to enter the ground. ", "It is important to remember that criminal proceedings have a very different purpose to an inquest.". Duckenfield was a public servant who failed in his basic duties to the people he was charged with protecting. Last year's inquests into the Hillsborough disaster concluded the 96 fans had been unlawfully killed, Norman Bettison was charged with four counts of misconduct in a public office. Answering questions from Mansfield, Duckenfield said, however, that he did believe Liverpool fans turned up late and drunk to the match, and that Merseyside police failed to tell the South Yorkshire force that Liverpool fans were in the habit of doing that. It was a catastrophic and deadly error. That is all true but some people make out the cops knew what would happen when no one did. Who has been left to carry the weight and pain of the disaster? Duckenfield added that he had no idea what motivated him to blame other people for his mistakes. That, and other reprehensible and exceptionally bad failings were a significant cause of the deaths from the lethal crush that developed in pens 3 and 4, Matthews told the court. Hand Painted FDC at the best online prices at eBay! Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher, 18, died at Hillsborough, pumped his fist after a meeting with lawyers and other relatives. David Duffield was a record-breaking cyclist in his younger days and worked as a marketing man for the cycle manufacturer Raleigh before becoming a commentator for Eurosport. More than 28 years after their deaths, families of the victims gathered to hear the result of their long campaign in Warrington. They were even more appalled when Openshaw called the defendant a poor chap after Duckenfield was forced to go to hospital with a suspected chest infection. The jury in Preston heard that the lethal crush developed in the central pens 3 and 4 of the Leppings Lane terrace after a buildup of people at the turnstiles with tickets to support Liverpool. Under the rules governing inquests, Duckenfield could not be named on Tuesday when the jury found that the 96 had been unlawfully killed. The police officer had. . As always you can unsubscribe at any time. He got jailed for manslaughter IIRC. The matchday commander at Hillsborough was found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter charges pertaining to his role in the football disaster 30 years ago. It took some tortuous legal logic to create a courtroom environment where this could be allowed to happen. He was best known, however, as the voice of cycling on British satellite television for more than 20 years. The question Id like to ask all of you and people within the system is: who put 96 people in their graves? Content from BBC News. Duckenfield, 75, is charged with the manslaughter, by gross negligence, of 95 of the people killed. The former South Yorkshire police chief superintendent David Duckenfield has been found not guilty of gross negligence manslaughter more than 30 years after he commanded the police at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest, at which 96 people died. 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