David Conn @david_conn BREAKING Hillsborough: Judge Sir Peter Openshaw has lifted the "stay," the bar, on prosecuting ex South Yorkshire police Ch Supt David Duckenfield; he will now be tried for 95 counts of manslaughter. David Conn @david_conn BREAKING: Hillsborough: Judge has ruled that criminal charges will go ahead, to trial, against 4 more defendants: Graham Mackrell, Donald Denton, Alan Foster & Peter Metcalf. David Conn @david_conn Hillsborough: The court hearing of Sir Norman Bettison's application to "stay" the charges against him has been adjourned, will be heard on August 21.
David Conn @david_conn Hillsborough: David Duckenfield trial for 95 counts of manslaughter, & of Graham Mackrell for alleged safety breaches, to begin in Preston 10 September.
Wow! That's a seismic shift by the establishment. It's not often that senior police officers have to face their responsibilities.
David Conn @david_conn Hillsborough: Charges against South Yorkshire police match commander Duckenfield & 4 other defendants are to proceed, a judge has ruled. There should be NO COMMENTARY on the defendants, charges or trials, only reporting of the proceedings, as permitted by the judge.
Terrible statement just issued by South Yorkshire Police Federation... South Yorkshire Police Federation is aware of today’s Independent Office for Police Conduct report into the Hillsborough disaster. The report is a significant waste of taxpayers' time and taxpayers' money. It is not fair or balanced. Former police officers - some of whom are very elderly and some who have sadly passed away - do not have any kind of due process or the ability to formally respond to the allegations made in this report. These are opinions of the IOPC essentially being dressed up as statements of almost fact. We emphasise that these are just allegations. Our former colleagues do not have and have not had the right to reply to any accusations. They should not face trial by media. It is with this context that we should rightly question the value of this much delayed report and its multi million pound cost to the public purse. This report doesn't help anybody involved in the Hillsborough disaster. Our thoughts remain with all those affected by this terrible tragedy.
