January 15 – The trial of two men facing allegations related to the 1989 Hillsborough stadium tragedy got under way today including that of the officer in command of the match, now retired chief superintendent David Duckenfield, on a criminal charge of gross negligence manslaughter.
The charge relates to 95 victims, all Liverpool supporters, who died in an overcrowded enclosure during the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The 96th victim died more than a year and a day after the disaster and under the law at the time this means there can be no prosecution over his death.
Graham Mackrell, a former chairman of Sheffield Wednesday who play at Hillsborough, is accused of an offence involving the stadium’s safety certificate and a health and safety allegation. Mackrell was the club’s designated safety officer.
Both men deny the offences.
The trial, presided over by judge Sir Peter Openshaw at Preston Crown Court, is expected to last several months.
Relatives of some of those who died at Hillsborough were in court to see the trial begin with the process of selecting a 12-person jury.
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