Duckenfield Found Not Guilty Of Manslaughter.

[ladybirder]

Police Press Conference due son.How do you feel about this.

https://news.sky.com/video/hillsborough-david-duckenfield-found-not-guilty-of-manslaughter-11872693

[New Judge]

I think it should be tackled the other way round, Zacs. How does a Coroner's jury reach the conclusion that the victims were unlawfully killed when there were such a variety of contributing factors? That verdict decrees that the victims were killed by way of an unlawful act by one or more persons. The "unlawful act" must have been assumed by that jury to be the "gross negligence" of Mr Duckenfield. To have returned that verdict the jury must have believed "beyond reasonable doubt" that this was the case. Interestingly, after answering formally seven questions about the actions of the police, they also answered these:

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Question 8: Were there any features of the design, construction and layout of the stadium which you consider were dangerous or defective and which caused or contributed to the disaster?
A:Yes.

Question 9: Was there any error or omission in the safety certification and oversight of Hillsborough stadium that caused or contributed to the disaster?
A: Yes.

Question 10: Was there any error or omission by Sheffield Wednesday Football Club (and its staff) in the management of the stadium and/or preparation for the semi-final match on 15 April 1989 which caused or contributed to the dangerous situation that developed on the day of the match?
A: Yes.


Further to that question: Was there any error or omission by Sheffield Wednesday FC (and its staff) on 15 April 1989 which may have caused or contributed to the dangerous situation that developed at the Leppings Lane turnstiles and in the west terrace?
A: Yes.

Question 12: Should Eastwood & Partners have done more to detect and advise on any unsafe or unsatisfactory features of Hillsborough stadium which caused or contributed to the disaster?
A: Yes.

Question 13: After the crush in the west terrace had begun to develop, was there any error or omission by the police which caused or contributed to the loss of lives in the disaster?
A: Yes.

Question 14: After the crush in the west terrace had begun to develop, was there any error or omission by the ambulance service (SYMAS) which caused or contributed to the loss of lives in the disaster?
A: Yes.

It is clear that there was a wide variety of shortcomings demonstrated by a number or people and organisations. I still don't believe those shortcomings amounted to "unlawful killing" but even if they did, how come only Mr Duckenfield was up before The Beak?

[Zacs-Master]

Indeed.

[THECORBYLOON]

The other seven questions considered were,


1. Basic facts of the disaster: Do you agree with the following statement: "Ninety-six people died as a result of the disaster at the Hillsborough stadium on 15 April 1989 due to crushing in the central pens of the Leppings Lane terrace, following the admission of a large number of supporters to the stadium through exit gates."

Jury's answer : Yes.

2. Police planning for the semi-final match:Was there any error or omission in police planning or preparation which caused or contributed to the dangerous situation that developed on the day of the match?

Jury's answer: Yes

"We feel there were major omissions in the 1989 operational order".

3. Policing of the match and the situation at the turnstiles: Was there any error or omission in policing on the day of the match which caused or contributed to a dangerous situation developing at the Leppings Lane turnstiles?

Jury's answer: Yes

"The police response to the increasing crowd at Leppings Lane was slow and uncoordinated.

"The road closure and sweep of fans exacerbated the situation. No filter cordons were place in Leppings Lane. No contingency plans were made for the sudden arrival of a large number of fans.

"Attempts to close the perimeter gates were made too late".

4. Policing of the match and the crush on the terrace: Was there any error or omission by commanding officers which caused or contributed to the crush on the terrace?

Jury's answer: Yes

"Commanding officers should have ordered the closing of the central tunnel".

5. The opening of the gates: When the order was given to open the exit gates at the Leppings Lane end of the stadium was there any error or omission by the commanding officers in the control box which caused or contributed to the crush on the terrace?

Jury's answer: Yes

"Commanding officers did not inform officers in the inner concourse prior to the opening of Gate C.

"Commanding officers failed to consider where fans would go.

"Commanding officers failed to order the closure of the central tunnel prior to the opening of Gate C".

6. Unlawful killing: Are you satisfied, so that you are sure, that those who died in the disaster were unlawfully killed? To answer 'yes' to this question, the jurors must be sure of the following:

Firstly, that Ch Supt David Duckenfield owed a duty of care to the 96 who died
Secondly, that he was in breach of that duty of care
Thirdly, that the breach of Mr Duckenfield's duty of care caused the deaths
Finally, the jury must be sure that the breach which caused the deaths amounted to "gross negligence."

Jury's answer: Yes

7. Behaviour of the supporters: Was there any behaviour on the part of the football supporters which caused or contributed to the dangerous situation at the Leppings Lane turnstiles?

Jury's answer: No

[RayH]

Why has nobody said that it was the hooligans at the back of the crowd pushing forward that killed all those people?
It wouldn't have happened at an athletics meeting!

[New Judge]

//Why has nobody said that it was the hooligans at the back of the crowd pushing forward that killed all those people?
It wouldn't have happened at an athletics meeting!//

The second coroner's jury found they had not (question #7 kindly provided by Corby). Of course at an athletics meeting (and all the football matches I attended many years ago) spectators were in the ground well in time for the start. They didn't stay in the pub until two minutes before the off and then dash into the ground. But the jury, who heard all the evidence, decided that was not a contributory factor.

It is interesting that question six, addressing the question of "unlawful killing", concentrates solely on Mr Duckenfield. The actions of no other person or organisation are considered when answering that question, despite the jury finding that other people's shortcomings had contributed significantly to the disaster.

[ToraToraTora]

i just can't see how the behaviour of supporters can possibly not be a factor. The reasons for the police decisions were because of the supporters.

[ladybirder]

I think that's a perfectly reasonable thing to say TTT. It must surely be a factor in this tragedy.

[New Judge]

There was a bloke interviewed for a newspaper following the verdict. He was some sort of "stadium safety expert". He said that without a doubt crown behaviour was one of the many factors leading to the tragedy. He skirted round the issue I raised (diplomatically) but suggested that had the crown been in the ground earlier and in time for the kick off, it is unlikely there would have been any problems.