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Hillsborough trial: David Duckenfield 'target of blame' | Hillsborough trial: David Duckenfield 'target of blame' |
(32 minutes later) | |
Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been treated as a "target of blame", a jury has heard. | Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been treated as a "target of blame", a jury has heard. |
Continuing his closing speech for the defence, Benjamin Myers QC said evidence from the 2015 Hillsborough inquests should be dismissed. | |
He told Preston Crown Court the 74-year-old was an "excellent police officer". | |
The retired chief superintendant denies the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans who died in April 1989. | |
Mr Myers told the jury: "David Duckenfield has not been treated as a normal person, but as a target of blame. | Mr Myers told the jury: "David Duckenfield has not been treated as a normal person, but as a target of blame. |
"We suggest the human compulsion to find someone to blame when something goes wrong is very powerful." | "We suggest the human compulsion to find someone to blame when something goes wrong is very powerful." |
He said Mr Duckenfield "went to work that day to help people" and accused the prosecution of relying heavily on evidence from the inquests in Warrington. | He said Mr Duckenfield "went to work that day to help people" and accused the prosecution of relying heavily on evidence from the inquests in Warrington. |
'Relentless questioning' | 'Relentless questioning' |
The court heard that, during those hearings, Mr Duckenfield admitted several failures and accepted he froze as the disaster unfolded. | The court heard that, during those hearings, Mr Duckenfield admitted several failures and accepted he froze as the disaster unfolded. |
Mr Myers said many of the answers were given in hindsight and taken out of context. | Mr Myers said many of the answers were given in hindsight and taken out of context. |
He argued Mr Duckenfield had been subjected to intense scrutiny over seven days in the witness box. | He argued Mr Duckenfield had been subjected to intense scrutiny over seven days in the witness box. |
"What you have," he said, "is the relentless questioning of a man struggling to recall what he knows and what he doesn't, until it seems he ends up accepting some of it. | "What you have," he said, "is the relentless questioning of a man struggling to recall what he knows and what he doesn't, until it seems he ends up accepting some of it. |
"For the prosecution to use it in this way is very unfair. Ultimately we dismiss this evidence." | "For the prosecution to use it in this way is very unfair. Ultimately we dismiss this evidence." |
On Friday Mr Myer said the prosecution of his client was "breathtakingly unfair" and the jury was being invited to "give him criminal responsibility for a decade of incompetence on the part of others". | On Friday Mr Myer said the prosecution of his client was "breathtakingly unfair" and the jury was being invited to "give him criminal responsibility for a decade of incompetence on the part of others". |
On Thursday, prosecutor Richard Matthews QC said Mr Duckenfield had "ultimate responsibility" and should have made "lifesaving decisions". | On Thursday, prosecutor Richard Matthews QC said Mr Duckenfield had "ultimate responsibility" and should have made "lifesaving decisions". |
Under the law at the time, there can be no prosecution for the 96th victim, Tony Bland, as he died more than a year and a day after the disaster. | Under the law at the time, there can be no prosecution for the 96th victim, Tony Bland, as he died more than a year and a day after the disaster. |
Former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell, 69, denies failing to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety Act. | Former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell, 69, denies failing to discharge a duty under the Health and Safety Act. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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