Bid to charge top cop over 95 deaths at Hillsborough
A LEGAL bid began yesterday to allow criminal charges to be brought against the match commander at the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. Former South Yorkshire Police Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield, 73, was granted a stay of prosecution in 2000 after a previous civil case.
Now the Crown Prosecution Service is applying to lift the stay, to charge him over the manslaughter of 95 of the 96 Liverpool FC victims.
The application to lift the stay is being heard at Preston Crown Court.
Five other defendants, already charged over the tragedy, are also requesting a stay in their impending trials on the grounds of abuse of process.
Mr Duckenfield is set to go on trial in September alongside former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell, 68, charged with two offences involving the stadium safety certificate and a health and safety offence.
Retired officers Donald Denton, 80, and Alan Foster, 71, and ex-solicitor Peter Metcalf, 68, face trial accused of perverting the course of justice.
Ex-Chief Constable of Merseyside Sir Norman Bettison, 62, faces charges of misconduct in a public office.
Mackrell and Metcalf attended yesterday’s hearing.