Hillsborough verdict: 96 victims were unlawfully killed in disaster, jury concludes

Hillsborough verdict: 96 victims were unlawfully killed in disaster, jury concludes

The two-year inquest into the 1989 disaster has seen more than 800 witnesses giving evidence and been the longest jury hearing in British legal history Credit: David Cannon/Allsport

• Police errors led to deaths of 96 Liverpool fans
  
• Police chief David Duckenfield facing criminal charges
  
• SPECIAL REPORT Hillsborough: the inconvenient witness
  
• How the jury answered the 14 questions put to them
  
• Jury finds fans did not contribute to Hillsborough disaster
  
• Relatives erupt with joy at verdict, shouting "yes" in unison
  
• The new evidence that could lead to prosecutions
  
• Gallery: Britain's worst sporting disaster remembered, in pictures
  

 

The 96 were unlawfully killed

The 96 Liverpool fans who died in the Hillsborough disaster were unlawfully killed, the inquests jury has concluded.

The jurors were told they could only reach that determination if they were sure of four "essential" matters concerning the deaths at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final.

They had to be convinced that overall match commander Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield owed a duty of care to those who died in the disaster, and that he was in breach of that duty of care.
Thirdly, they would need to be satisfied that his breach of duty caused the deaths and, fourthly, that it amounted to "gross negligence".

They concluded it was unlawful killing by a 7-2 majority.



How the Hillsborough disaster unfolded Play


The conclusion was greeted with sobbing and cheers at the hearing in Warrington.

The jury also ruled that fan behaviour did not cause or contribute to the tragedy.

The Hillsborough disaster unfolded during Liverpool's cup tie against Nottingham Forest on April 15 as thousands of fans were crushed at Sheffield Wednesday's ground.

Mr Duckenfield gave the order at 2.52pm to open exit Gate C in Leppings Lane, allowing around 2,000 fans to flood into the already packed central pens behind the goal.

The jury also found that both the police and the ambulance service caused or contributed to the loss of lives in the disaster by an error or omission after the crush in the west terrace had begun to develop.
After the key conclusions were delivered, someone in court shouted "God bless the jury".

The jurors were given a round of applause as they left the courtroom.
Lawyers acting for relatives of the victims said the jury's conclusions had completely vindicated the bereaved families' tireless 27-year fight for justice.

The jury of six women and three men gave their decisions on an emotionally charged day for relatives of the 96, many of whom were at court for the conclusion of the longest jury proceedings in British legal history.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/04/26/hillsborough-inquests-jury-delivers-decision-on-whether-96-victi/