UK - Hillsborough, Inquest into the deaths of 96 people at the FA Cup semi-final game, 1989 mistrial

[Mrs Marple]

Not much to report on the trial, this seems to be the most recent:

Hillsborough PC's account 'had criticism removed' - BBC News

The court heard that Mr Groome's account:

• Questioned why the kick-off had not been delayed
• Queried a 10% reduction in police manpower compared to the previous year
• Suggested control room staff were not used to pressure
• Claimed policing at Hillsborough had become "complacent"
• Described the organisation of the match as "poor"

Those remarks were all crossed out and did not appear in a later copy of the statement which were sent to West Midlands Police, which was investigating the disaster.

 

[Legally Bland]

I guess this is the end of the road.


A judge has stopped the trial of two former South Yorkshire police officers and the force’s former solicitor, who had been charged with perverting the course of justice for amending police statements after the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.

Mr Justice William Davis ruled that there was no case for the defendants to answer because the altered police statements were prepared for the public inquiry into the disaster by Lord Justice Taylor. That was not a statutory public inquiry, at which evidence is given on oath, so it was not a “course of public justice”, which could be perverted by amending statements, Davis ruled.

[...]

Metcalf’s barrister, Jonathan Goldberg QC, referring to South Yorkshire police’s approach to the Taylor inquiry, in his opening speech, said: “Like most big organisations, the instinctive reaction was to come out fighting and defend themselves against criticism.”

In a hearing on 21 May, Goldberg argued there was no case to answer, and that Metcalf was entitled to remove whole “topics” of relevant evidence from police statements, because he had no legal duty to tell the whole truth to the Taylor inquiry.

Arguing that the legal duty could be the court’s only consideration, Goldberg said: “This court is not a court of morals. This court is not a court of common decency.”

[...]

Davis rejected Whitehouse’s arguments that the changing of the statements may also have affected the criminal investigation into the disaster, coroner’s inquest and civil legal actions, ruling: “So it is that I have concluded that there is no case fit for the jury’s consideration on any count on the indictment.”

[...]

The process of changing police statements featured strongly in the evidence presented to the jury at the inquests, where lawyers for the bereaved families argued its purpose was to evade police responsibility for the disaster, and blame the supporters, the victims, instead.

Hillsborough: trial of former South Yorkshire police officers collapses

BBM

 

[Mrs Marple]

Whilst l understand the ruling l'm struggling with this.

 

[Littlegreenlady]

I can't understand it at all - surely the Taylor inquiry must have had some form of legal recourse, else it wouldn't have had the impact it did over the years. And surely the judge is basically then saying it's okay for them to have changed their statements.

Just read this on the Guardian as well (BBM)
‘Judicial’ Hillsborough inquiry questionnaires cast doubt on trial ruling

"After the ruling, Catherine Watson, who was at Hillsborough aged 24 supporting Liverpool, looked up her completed questionnaire and sent it to Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester and a long-term supporter of the bereaved families’ justice campaign.

Burnham said: “Last week’s ruling referred to the Taylor inquiry as an administrative process. However, this appears to contradict that. People providing statements had no doubt it was a judicial inquiry. Police statements presented to the Taylor inquiry were also used at the subsequent inquest.

“If public servants can provide selective or misleading information to an inquiry and an inquest and face no consequences, the implications for public accountability are very serious.”"

 

[Mrs Marple]

Police forces agree Hillsborough cover-up payout - BBC News

'Two police forces are to pay damages to more than 600 people over a cover-up which followed the Hillsborough disaster.

The South Yorkshire and West Midlands forces agreed the settlement earlier this year following a civil claim.'

At a loss with this one. Compensation for a cover up that wasn't a cover up because they were allowed to change their statements. Bewildered.

 

[KarenUK]

Andrew Devine, 55, Liverpool fan who suffered life-changing injuries in the Hillsborough disaster has died.

The coroner has confirmed him as the 97th Hillsborough victim

 

[skibaboo]

Andrew Devine, 55, Liverpool fan who suffered life-changing injuries in the Hillsborough disaster has died.

The coroner has confirmed him as the 97th Hillsborough victim

JFT97

 

[Mrs Marple]

And the unknown victims who took their own lives from trauma and grief. All those who live with physical and mental injuries.