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| Six to Be Charged in 1989 Hillsborough Stadium Disaster in England | Six to Be Charged in 1989 Hillsborough Stadium Disaster in England |
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| LONDON — British prosecutors on Wednesday filed criminal charges against six people, including former senior police officials, in the deaths of 96 soccer fans at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield, England, in 1989. The catastrophe transformed how the sport is viewed in the country, and the decision is a further, long-awaited vindication for friends and families of the victims. | LONDON — British prosecutors on Wednesday filed criminal charges against six people, including former senior police officials, in the deaths of 96 soccer fans at the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield, England, in 1989. The catastrophe transformed how the sport is viewed in the country, and the decision is a further, long-awaited vindication for friends and families of the victims. |
| In April 2016, an inquest found that the victims, who were crushed or trampled to death, had been “unlawfully killed” and cited lethal police errors, but it left open the question of whether criminal charges would be filed. | In April 2016, an inquest found that the victims, who were crushed or trampled to death, had been “unlawfully killed” and cited lethal police errors, but it left open the question of whether criminal charges would be filed. |
| The jury answered yes to the crucial questions of whether there were errors or omissions by the police in planning and executing security for the match on April 15, 1989, and it cited the actions of commanding officers. | The jury answered yes to the crucial questions of whether there were errors or omissions by the police in planning and executing security for the match on April 15, 1989, and it cited the actions of commanding officers. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service announced on Wednesday that David Duckenfield, who was the match commander for South Yorkshire Police on the day of the tragedy, would face manslaughter charges. | The Crown Prosecution Service announced on Wednesday that David Duckenfield, who was the match commander for South Yorkshire Police on the day of the tragedy, would face manslaughter charges. |
| Five other men also face criminal charges: Graham Henry Mackrell, a former secretary of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, which operates Hillsborough Stadium; Peter Metcalf, a lawyer who represented the South Yorkshire Police; and three other former high-ranking police officers: Norman Bettison, Donald Denton and Alan Foster. | Five other men also face criminal charges: Graham Henry Mackrell, a former secretary of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club, which operates Hillsborough Stadium; Peter Metcalf, a lawyer who represented the South Yorkshire Police; and three other former high-ranking police officers: Norman Bettison, Donald Denton and Alan Foster. |
| The decades-long struggle to find out what really happened on the day of the match dragged as the authorities sought to obfuscate and blame the fans for causing the disaster. But, after steadfast campaigning by the families and friends of the victims, the prevailing narrative in the case — which has raised issues of class, institutional accountability and justice — shifted from the behavior of the fans to the failure of law enforcement to police the game properly. | The decades-long struggle to find out what really happened on the day of the match dragged as the authorities sought to obfuscate and blame the fans for causing the disaster. But, after steadfast campaigning by the families and friends of the victims, the prevailing narrative in the case — which has raised issues of class, institutional accountability and justice — shifted from the behavior of the fans to the failure of law enforcement to police the game properly. |
| Families of the victims expressed relief at the prosecution service’s decision. Barry Devonside, whose 18-year-old son Christopher died in the tragedy, told Sky News that the families had applauded when they learned that “the most senior police officer on that particular day will have charges presented to him.” | Families of the victims expressed relief at the prosecution service’s decision. Barry Devonside, whose 18-year-old son Christopher died in the tragedy, told Sky News that the families had applauded when they learned that “the most senior police officer on that particular day will have charges presented to him.” |
| He added: “I was frightened, absolutely frightened, that we were going to be let down again.” | He added: “I was frightened, absolutely frightened, that we were going to be let down again.” |
| Speaking in the House of Commons, Prime Minister Theresa May welcomed the prosecutors’ decision and lauded the “absolutely exemplary” manner by which the families of the victims had campaigned. | |
| “I know from working closely with the families when I was home secretary that this will be a day of mixed emotions for them,” Mrs. May said, referring to her previous role overseeing law enforcement. “I welcome the fact that charging decisions have been taken. I think that is an important step forward.” | “I know from working closely with the families when I was home secretary that this will be a day of mixed emotions for them,” Mrs. May said, referring to her previous role overseeing law enforcement. “I welcome the fact that charging decisions have been taken. I think that is an important step forward.” |
| Sue Hemming, the head of the prosecution service’s special crime and counterterrorism division, announced the charges after meeting with victims’ families on Wednesday morning. | Sue Hemming, the head of the prosecution service’s special crime and counterterrorism division, announced the charges after meeting with victims’ families on Wednesday morning. |
| “Criminal proceedings have now commenced, and the defendants have a right to a fair trial,” she said. “It is extremely important that there should be no reporting, commentary or sharing of information online which could in any way prejudice these proceedings.” | |
| The victims suffocated at an F.A. Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest after the police opened an exit gate in an effort to relieve congestion outside the stadium before the game. In the chaos that ensued, some victims were crushed against steel fencing. Others were trampled, and more than 700 people were injured. The victims were ages 10 to 67, and they included 37 teenagers. | The victims suffocated at an F.A. Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest after the police opened an exit gate in an effort to relieve congestion outside the stadium before the game. In the chaos that ensued, some victims were crushed against steel fencing. Others were trampled, and more than 700 people were injured. The victims were ages 10 to 67, and they included 37 teenagers. |
| After the disaster, some senior law enforcement officials and members of the news media, particularly at The Sun newspaper, initially pointed fingers at the victims for abetting their own deaths, saying they had been drunk and unruly. | After the disaster, some senior law enforcement officials and members of the news media, particularly at The Sun newspaper, initially pointed fingers at the victims for abetting their own deaths, saying they had been drunk and unruly. |
| But the jury — after a two-year inquest that began on April 1, 2014, the longest case heard by a jury in British legal history — found that the fans had not been responsible and instead identified lethal police errors. The inquest was not a criminal trial but, rather, a finding of fact that did not confer civil damages or penalties. It was left to prosecutors to evaluate whether to press criminal charges. | But the jury — after a two-year inquest that began on April 1, 2014, the longest case heard by a jury in British legal history — found that the fans had not been responsible and instead identified lethal police errors. The inquest was not a criminal trial but, rather, a finding of fact that did not confer civil damages or penalties. It was left to prosecutors to evaluate whether to press criminal charges. |
| The tragedy changed how soccer is watched: Standing-only sections at stadiums that were vulnerable to overcrowding were replaced by seating areas at most venues in Britain, and fences around the field were removed. | The tragedy changed how soccer is watched: Standing-only sections at stadiums that were vulnerable to overcrowding were replaced by seating areas at most venues in Britain, and fences around the field were removed. |
| Scrutiny has intensified in particular on Mr. Duckenfield, the match commander, who falsely claimed that spectators had opened the gate. | Scrutiny has intensified in particular on Mr. Duckenfield, the match commander, who falsely claimed that spectators had opened the gate. |
| During an inquest into the tragedy, Mr. Duckenfield said that he “froze” during the crucial moments when officers were confronted with the threat of overcrowding and that he did not anticipate that his failure to close a tunnel leading to crowded pens would prove deadly. | During an inquest into the tragedy, Mr. Duckenfield said that he “froze” during the crucial moments when officers were confronted with the threat of overcrowding and that he did not anticipate that his failure to close a tunnel leading to crowded pens would prove deadly. |
| Mr. Duckenfield faces the most serious charge: manslaughter by gross negligence in the deaths of 95 people. (The 96th victim, Anthony Bland, died nearly four years after the disaster, too late for Mr. Duckenfield to be charged under the law at the time.) | Mr. Duckenfield faces the most serious charge: manslaughter by gross negligence in the deaths of 95 people. (The 96th victim, Anthony Bland, died nearly four years after the disaster, too late for Mr. Duckenfield to be charged under the law at the time.) |
| “We will allege that David Duckenfield’s failures to discharge his personal responsibility were extraordinarily bad and contributed substantially to the deaths of each of those 96 people who so tragically and unnecessarily lost their lives,” Ms. Hemming said. If convicted, he could face life in prison. | “We will allege that David Duckenfield’s failures to discharge his personal responsibility were extraordinarily bad and contributed substantially to the deaths of each of those 96 people who so tragically and unnecessarily lost their lives,” Ms. Hemming said. If convicted, he could face life in prison. |
| Mr. Mackrell, the former football club official, faces three charges of violating safety laws. Prosecutors say he failed to organize the use of admissions turnstiles; to make and maintain inspection records about spectator numbers; to “take reasonable care,” as the stadium’s safety officer, to prevent the gathering of “unduly large crowds”; and to make plans with the police “for coping with exceptionally large numbers of spectators arriving at the ground.” | Mr. Mackrell, the former football club official, faces three charges of violating safety laws. Prosecutors say he failed to organize the use of admissions turnstiles; to make and maintain inspection records about spectator numbers; to “take reasonable care,” as the stadium’s safety officer, to prevent the gathering of “unduly large crowds”; and to make plans with the police “for coping with exceptionally large numbers of spectators arriving at the ground.” |
| Mr. Metcalf, the former lawyer for the police, was charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice. Prosecutors say he “made suggestions for alterations, deletions and amendments” that misled the Taylor Inquiry, a panel tasked with investigating the disaster. The victims’ families have long argued that the inquiry, published in 1990, was effectively a whitewash. | Mr. Metcalf, the former lawyer for the police, was charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice. Prosecutors say he “made suggestions for alterations, deletions and amendments” that misled the Taylor Inquiry, a panel tasked with investigating the disaster. The victims’ families have long argued that the inquiry, published in 1990, was effectively a whitewash. |
| Mr. Bettison, a former chief constable, was charged with four counts of misconduct in public office. He is accused of lying to the authorities about his role in the aftermath of the disaster and about the culpability of the fans. | Mr. Bettison, a former chief constable, was charged with four counts of misconduct in public office. He is accused of lying to the authorities about his role in the aftermath of the disaster and about the culpability of the fans. |
| Mr. Denton, a former chief police superintendent, and Mr. Foster, a former detective chief inspector, each face two charges of perverting the course of justice, both in connection with altering witness statements. | Mr. Denton, a former chief police superintendent, and Mr. Foster, a former detective chief inspector, each face two charges of perverting the course of justice, both in connection with altering witness statements. |
| In the days after the 1989 disaster, The Sun published a story blaming Liverpool fans for belligerent behavior, saying they had attacked the authorities and even picked victims’ pockets. The newspaper’s editor at the time, Kelvin MacKenzie, apologized more than 23 years later, but to this day, The Sun is reviled for its coverage of the tragedy, particularly by people in and around Liverpool. | In the days after the 1989 disaster, The Sun published a story blaming Liverpool fans for belligerent behavior, saying they had attacked the authorities and even picked victims’ pockets. The newspaper’s editor at the time, Kelvin MacKenzie, apologized more than 23 years later, but to this day, The Sun is reviled for its coverage of the tragedy, particularly by people in and around Liverpool. |
| In 1996, Bernard Ingham, a former spokesman for Margaret Thatcher, who was prime minister at the time of the Hillsborough disaster, wrote a letter to Graham Skinner, a Liverpool fan whose friend had died in the crush, in which he blamed fans for their own deaths. | In 1996, Bernard Ingham, a former spokesman for Margaret Thatcher, who was prime minister at the time of the Hillsborough disaster, wrote a letter to Graham Skinner, a Liverpool fan whose friend had died in the crush, in which he blamed fans for their own deaths. |
| “I believe that there would have been no Hillsborough disaster if tanked-up yobs had not turned up in very large numbers to try to force their way into the ground,” he wrote. | “I believe that there would have been no Hillsborough disaster if tanked-up yobs had not turned up in very large numbers to try to force their way into the ground,” he wrote. |