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Hillsborough inquests: families of two victims identified quickly waited hours for news Hillsborough inquests: families of two victims identified quickly waited hours for news
(34 minutes later)
Two young men who died at Hillsborough in 1989 were identified almost immediately by police thanks to documents in their pockets, but their families were not told for hours, the new inquests into the disaster have heard.Two young men who died at Hillsborough in 1989 were identified almost immediately by police thanks to documents in their pockets, but their families were not told for hours, the new inquests into the disaster have heard.
James Aspinall, 18, and Steven Fox, 21, were among the 96 people killed in the crush at the Sheffield Wednesday ground. James Aspinall, 18, and Steven Fox, 21, were among the 96 people who died as a result of the crush at the Sheffield Wednesday football ground.
James’s father, Jimmy Sr, was also at Hillsborough, supporting Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. After the tragedy, he checked for his son at the hospitals in Sheffield but drove home to Liverpool when he could not find him there.James’s father, Jimmy Sr, was also at Hillsborough, supporting Liverpool in the FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest. After the tragedy, he checked for his son at the hospitals in Sheffield but drove home to Liverpool when he could not find him there.
James’s mother, Margaret – who chairs the Hillsborough Family Support Group – was told by a bus company her son had travelled with to the match that they had accounted for all their passengers. The couple went to the bus station and waited for every bus to return until they realised James was not on any of them.James’s mother, Margaret – who chairs the Hillsborough Family Support Group – was told by a bus company her son had travelled with to the match that they had accounted for all their passengers. The couple went to the bus station and waited for every bus to return until they realised James was not on any of them.
Jimmy Aspinall then drove from Liverpool to Sheffield again with another of his sons, David. They had to look through photographs of people who had died, first seeing James’s friend, Graham Wright, 17, before seeing James’s picture. Jimmy was taken to identify his son’s body at 3.45am. The pair then drove back to Liverpool where they told Margaret that her son was dead.Jimmy Aspinall then drove from Liverpool to Sheffield again with another of his sons, David. They had to look through photographs of people who had died, first seeing James’s friend, Graham Wright, 17, before seeing James’s picture. Jimmy was taken to identify his son’s body at 3.45am. The pair then drove back to Liverpool where they told Margaret that her son was dead.
The inquests in Warrington heard that South Yorkshire police had identified him from a travel card in his pocket by 4.30pm on the afternoon of the disaster. The inquests in Warrington heard that South Yorkshire police had identified him, using a travel card in his pocket, by 4.30pm on the afternoon of the disaster.
James Aspinall had been in “pen” three of the Leppings Lane terrace with Wright. Jimmy Aspinall was standing further along, on the north-west terrace. The teenagers bumped into James’s cousin Carl Serritt, who invited them to stand with him higher up the terrace, but James told him they would stayed where they were.James Aspinall had been in “pen” three of the Leppings Lane terrace with Wright. Jimmy Aspinall was standing further along, on the north-west terrace. The teenagers bumped into James’s cousin Carl Serritt, who invited them to stand with him higher up the terrace, but James told him they would stayed where they were.
Christina Lambert QC, for the coroner Sir John Goldring, said there was no film footage or witness evidence about how James Aspinall became caught up in the lethal crush, or how he ended up lying on the Hillsborough pitch sometime after 3.22pm.Christina Lambert QC, for the coroner Sir John Goldring, said there was no film footage or witness evidence about how James Aspinall became caught up in the lethal crush, or how he ended up lying on the Hillsborough pitch sometime after 3.22pm.
A police officer, Robert Fox, said in a statement in March 1990 that he tried to revive James “for a few minutes” before deciding he was dead. Giving evidence in person, Fox said he did not now remember the events, but he was sure he would have checked Aspinall for signs of life before deciding he was dead. He took his police tunic off to place it over Aspinall’s face, for “a show of dignity”, he said.A police officer, Robert Fox, said in a statement in March 1990 that he tried to revive James “for a few minutes” before deciding he was dead. Giving evidence in person, Fox said he did not now remember the events, but he was sure he would have checked Aspinall for signs of life before deciding he was dead. He took his police tunic off to place it over Aspinall’s face, for “a show of dignity”, he said.
Questioned by Michael Mansfield QC, representing the Aspinall family, Fox accepted that BBC footage showed he attended to Aspinall for just over a minute before leaving him to help other victims.Questioned by Michael Mansfield QC, representing the Aspinall family, Fox accepted that BBC footage showed he attended to Aspinall for just over a minute before leaving him to help other victims.
Fox finally agreed that it was possible he did not check Aspinall for signs of life and could have been told by other people that he was dead. Fox said: “I am sure that Mr Aspinall was dead. Otherwise I wouldn’t have put my tunic over him, and I did that out of respect.”Fox finally agreed that it was possible he did not check Aspinall for signs of life and could have been told by other people that he was dead. Fox said: “I am sure that Mr Aspinall was dead. Otherwise I wouldn’t have put my tunic over him, and I did that out of respect.”
The court heard that there was no witness evidence or footage showing Steven Fox, a Cadbury’s worker from Birkenhead, in the crush or how he was removed from it. A South Yorkshire police inspector, Kerry Grace, said that at 3.25pm he found a man believed to be Fox on the ground at the back of the Leppings Lane stand, with a coat covering his head. The court heard that there was no witness evidence or footage showing Steven Fox, a Cadbury’s employee from Birkenhead, in the crush or how he was removed from it. A South Yorkshire police inspector, Kerry Grace, said that at 3.25pm he found a man believed to be Fox on the ground at the back of the Leppings Lane stand, with a coat covering his head.
The body believed to be Fox’s, and others nearby, were moved to an area outside the Leppings Lane stand and cordoned off, then body bags and labels were brought round from the gymnasium. Another officer, PC Anthony Shelton, said he was told to stay with Fox, whom he provisionally identified from a membership card. Fox, pronounced dead by a doctor who was at the match as a Liverpool fan, was then taken to the gymnasium.The body believed to be Fox’s, and others nearby, were moved to an area outside the Leppings Lane stand and cordoned off, then body bags and labels were brought round from the gymnasium. Another officer, PC Anthony Shelton, said he was told to stay with Fox, whom he provisionally identified from a membership card. Fox, pronounced dead by a doctor who was at the match as a Liverpool fan, was then taken to the gymnasium.
Shelton said he would have passed the details to other officers but could not remember to whom.Shelton said he would have passed the details to other officers but could not remember to whom.
“Did you have no instructions or order to contact the families?” Hill asked. “No, sir, at no time,” Shelton replied.“Did you have no instructions or order to contact the families?” Hill asked. “No, sir, at no time,” Shelton replied.
John Pleavin, a friend of Fox’s at the match, ultimately picked out his picture on a board among others in the gymnasium at 11.15pm, and identified his body. Brenda Fox, Steven’s mother, was in court and said in a statement that she travelled to Sheffield from Birkenhead the following morning, arriving at 10am to formally identify her son’s body at 8.30pm.John Pleavin, a friend of Fox’s at the match, ultimately picked out his picture on a board among others in the gymnasium at 11.15pm, and identified his body. Brenda Fox, Steven’s mother, was in court and said in a statement that she travelled to Sheffield from Birkenhead the following morning, arriving at 10am to formally identify her son’s body at 8.30pm.
The inquests continue into a final phase of medical evidence about how each of the victims died.The inquests continue into a final phase of medical evidence about how each of the victims died.