Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has arrived for the start of his four-month trial where he is accused of the manslaughter of 95 of the 96 Liverpool fans who died in the 1989 disaster.
The retired police officer, 74, is in the dock at Preston Crown Court with former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell, 69, who is accused of health and safety offences.
Their trial is expected to last until May – with a break in proceedings in mid-April for commemorations to mark the 30th anniversary of the worst football stadium disaster in history.
Former South Yorkshire Police chief superintendent Duckenfield, 74, is accused of the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 Liverpool fans at the FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989.
Ninety six men, women and children died following the crush in pens at the Leppings Lane end of the Sheffield Wednesday ground at the match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
Under the law at the time, there can be no prosecution for the death of the 96th victim, Tony Bland, 22, because he died more than a year and a day after his injuries were caused.
David Duckenfield, 74, is pictured leaving Preston Crown Court (left). Former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell, 69, (right) is seen arriving this morning
Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield (left) and former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell (right) sketched in the dock today as jury selection began
Christine Burke (left today) and her daughter, the family of Hillsborough victim Henry Burke, are among several relatives attending the trial
Mackrell, 69, who was the club’s safety officer, is charged with contravening a term or condition of the stadium’s safety certificate and one health and safety offence.
Why is David Duckenfield being prosecuted for 95 deaths and not 96?
David Duckenfield is accused of causing 95 of the 96 people at Hillsborough in Sheffield in April 1989.
The law at the time means no one will ever be prosecuted for the death of the 96th victim.
Tony Bland, 22, (pictured) was crushed during the FA Cup Semi Final between his beloved Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
But he survived for four years because of life support.
Because he died more than a year and a day after his injuries were caused the CPS could not charge Duckenfield with his manslaughter.
In a statement, his family said last year: ‘Whilst we are hugely disappointed with the exclusion of Tony from the manslaughter charge against [match commander] David Duckenfield by the CPS, our relief for the families of the other 95 men, women and children outweigh our personal frustrations.
‘We will continue to support the other families on the journey for accountability.’
Mr Bland’s tragic death also formed part of a test case decision that first allowed doctors to decide whether patients should die, which was made by the Law Lords in 1993.
They said the 22-year-old Liverpool football supporter, who suffered severe brain damage in the crush at Hillsborough football stadium, should be allowed to die.
Doctors treating Mr Bland, who was in a persistent vegetative state, had to go to court to seek approval before discontinuing artificial feeding.
The landmark Bland ruling set down that artificial nutrition and hydration by tube are not normal feeding but medical treatment.
The men, who both deny the charges, are expected to appear at Preston Crown Court on Monday for the trial, which will last up to four months.
It will begin once a jury is selected.
The potential jurors have today been given a questionnaire to ascertain their suitability for selection.
Former chief superintendent David Duckenfield, 74, has pleaded not guilty.
Around 100 potential jurors were brought into Court 1 at Preston Crown Court, Lancashire, to be told the trial could last up to four months.
Judge Sir Peter Openshaw told them: ‘Public opinion in this country strongly supports a system of trial by jury, particularly in serious cases.
‘I know that your jury summons suggests that jury service is usually only for two weeks but some trials take longer than two weeks and I must find a jury, if I can, to try an important case which might last three or even four months.’
Duckenfield sat alongside former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary, Graham Mackrell, 69, who was charged with contravening the stadium’s safety certificate and a health and safety offence.
Sir Peter added: ‘In this case one defendant is charged with manslaughter and another with two health and safety offences arising out of the Hillsborough stadium disaster at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest played in Sheffield as long ago as April 15 1989.’
The 18 questions the men and women were asked included if they, family or friends had attended the game or knew anyone who had died there 29 years ago.
Supporters of Liverpool, Everton, Sheffield Wednesday or Nottingham Forest football clubs are likely to be excluded.
The questionnaire also asks whether they or close family members or friends had ever been police officers or been employed by the police, Crown Prosecution Service, Independent Police Complaints Commission or any criminal justice agency.
Duckenfield and Mackrell were asked to stand and face the potential jurors and the panel was asked if they recognised any of the witnesses’ names that were read out.
Potential jurors were also asked whether they had health problems or weddings or holidays booked. Victims’ family members sat in the public gallery.
he full list of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster (top row left to right) Adam Edward Spearritt, Alan Johnston, Alan McGlone, Andrew Mark Brookes, Anthony Bland, Anthony Peter Kelly, Arthur Horrocks, Barry Glover, Barry Sidney Bennett, Brian Christopher Mathews, Carl William Rimmer, Carl Brown, (second row left to right) Carl Darren Hewitt, Carl David Lewis, Christine Anne Jones, Christopher James Traynor, Christopher Barry Devonside, Christopher Edwards, Colin Wafer, Colin Andrew Hugh William Sefton, Colin Mark Ashcroft, David William Birtle, David George Rimmer, David Hawley, (third row left to right) David John Benson, David Leonard Thomas, David William Mather, Derrick George Godwin, Eric Hankin, Eric George Hughes, Francis Joseph McAllister, Gary Christopher Church, Gary Collins, Gary Harrison, Gary Philip Jones, Gerard Bernard Patrick Baron, (fourth row left to right) Gordon Rodney Horn, Graham John Roberts, Graham John Wright, Henry Charles Rogers
The Hillsborough disaster in 1989 remains one of the worst tragedies in modern memory
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