This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/27/world/europe/hillsborough-soccer-stadium-disaster.html

The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Victims of ’89 Hillsborough Soccer Stadium Disaster Died Unlawfully, Jury Says British Jury Faults Police Over 1989 Hillsborough Soccer Stadium Deaths
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — The 96 soccer fans who died at a match at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England, 27 years ago were unlawfully killed and the victims of police mistakes, a jury found on Tuesday after an inquest into the tragedy that convulsed Britain and shocked the world. LONDON — More than a quarter century ago, 96 Liverpool soccer fans were crushed and trampled to death at an English soccer match, a tragedy that convulsed Britain and shocked the world, even as police and safety officials blamed victims for causing their own deaths.
The jury answered yes to the main question of whether “there was probably any error or omission by the police which probably caused or contributed to the loss of lives in the disaster,” in which victims suffocated to death as they entered an F.A. Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989. On Tuesday, a jury found that the fans who died at the match at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield, England, were “unlawfully killed” and the victims of police mistakes.
Senior police and safety officials initially blamed the victims for causing their own deaths, which an independent inquiry later called “the most serious tragedy in U.K. sporting history.” The jury answered yes to the crucial question of whether “there was any error or omission in police planning and preparation for the semifinal match on 15 April 1989 that caused or contributed to the dangerous situation,” in which victims suffocated to death as they entered an F.A. Cup semifinal between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
The jury also rejected the notion that the fans were responsible for the deaths. Taken together, the findings amounted to vindication for the families of the victims and the survivors of the tragedy, who had been fighting for years to prove that the fans were victims of police conduct rather than agents of their own demise.
After the verdict was announced, family members clasped hands outside the coroner’s court in Warrington, England, east of Liverpool, and sang the Rodgers and Hammerstein song “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” the tune that Liverpool fans belt out at every game. Some held photographs of their dead relatives.
Senior police and safety officials had initially blamed the victims for causing their own deaths, which an independent inquiry later called “the most serious tragedy in U.K. sporting history.”
The events on that day changed how the game is watched: Standing-only sections at stadiums that were vulnerable to overcrowding have been replaced by all-seating areas at most venues in Britain, and fences around the field were removed.The events on that day changed how the game is watched: Standing-only sections at stadiums that were vulnerable to overcrowding have been replaced by all-seating areas at most venues in Britain, and fences around the field were removed.
Fans were killed after the police opened an exit gate in an effort to relieve congestion outside the stadium before the game began. In the chaos that ensued, some victims were crushed against steel fencing. Others were trampled, and more than 700 people were injured.Fans were killed after the police opened an exit gate in an effort to relieve congestion outside the stadium before the game began. In the chaos that ensued, some victims were crushed against steel fencing. Others were trampled, and more than 700 people were injured.
The head of the South Yorkshire police, David Duckenfield, later falsely claimed that spectators had opened the gate.The head of the South Yorkshire police, David Duckenfield, later falsely claimed that spectators had opened the gate.
The verdict, which capped the longest case heard by a jury in British legal history, comes more than two years after the inquest began, on April 1, 2014, and after a decades-long push by relatives, fans and the Liverpool club for a full accounting.The verdict, which capped the longest case heard by a jury in British legal history, comes more than two years after the inquest began, on April 1, 2014, and after a decades-long push by relatives, fans and the Liverpool club for a full accounting.
Legal experts noted that a coroner’s inquest was not a criminal trial, meaning that it does not confer civil damages or penalties, and that it is simply a finding of fact.Legal experts noted that a coroner’s inquest was not a criminal trial, meaning that it does not confer civil damages or penalties, and that it is simply a finding of fact.
“A coroner’s inquest doesn’t have any consequence other than the finding of fact as to what was the cause of death,” said Philip Evans, a leading criminal lawyer. After Tuesday’s ruling, the Crown Prosecution Service could consider a separate criminal case. “A coroner’s inquest doesn’t have any consequence other than the finding of fact as to what was the cause of death,” said Philip Evans, a leading criminal lawyer. After Tuesday’s ruling, the Crown Prosecution Service could consider a separate criminal case, and the service said it was evaluating whether to press charges in light of the findings.
The findings were expected to bring at least a degree of closure to the families of the victims and to the survivors. Relatives of the victims — ages 10 to 67, including 37 teenagers — attended the proceedings, which were held in Warrington, England, just east of Liverpool.
During the inquest, the jurors — six women and three men — were asked to answer 14 questions related to how and when the victims had died, and they concluded that the fans’ behavior did not cause or contribute to the disaster.During the inquest, the jurors — six women and three men — were asked to answer 14 questions related to how and when the victims had died, and they concluded that the fans’ behavior did not cause or contribute to the disaster.
Before Tuesday’s verdict, jurors working through the questions had unanimously agreed on answers to all them, save one: whether the victims were unlawfully killed and whether this amounted to manslaughter.Before Tuesday’s verdict, jurors working through the questions had unanimously agreed on answers to all them, save one: whether the victims were unlawfully killed and whether this amounted to manslaughter.
A new inquest into the disaster was ordered after an independent panel concluded in September 2012 that there had been a vast cover-up in which senior police offers sought to dissemble blame by making scapegoats of victims and survivors.A new inquest into the disaster was ordered after an independent panel concluded in September 2012 that there had been a vast cover-up in which senior police offers sought to dissemble blame by making scapegoats of victims and survivors.
In December of that year, a high court in London overturned the original inquest verdicts of accidental death.In December of that year, a high court in London overturned the original inquest verdicts of accidental death.
The independent panel’s report, citing post-mortem reports, said the coroner had assigned an arbitrary time of death for 41 victims, even as their heart and lungs continued to function. Some members of the victims’ families fainted when they read the report.The independent panel’s report, citing post-mortem reports, said the coroner had assigned an arbitrary time of death for 41 victims, even as their heart and lungs continued to function. Some members of the victims’ families fainted when they read the report.
When the 2012 report was published, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain issued a government apology to the families of the victims, saying that they had suffered a double injustice: “The injustice of the appalling events, the failure of the state to protect their loved ones and the indefensible wait to get to the truth,” and “the injustice of the denigration of the deceased — that they were somehow at fault for their own deaths.”When the 2012 report was published, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain issued a government apology to the families of the victims, saying that they had suffered a double injustice: “The injustice of the appalling events, the failure of the state to protect their loved ones and the indefensible wait to get to the truth,” and “the injustice of the denigration of the deceased — that they were somehow at fault for their own deaths.”
The Hillsborough tragedy culminated a dark decade for English soccer. Fifty-six people were killed when a fire raced through the stands during a Bradford City soccer match on May 11, 1985. Less than three weeks later, 39 people were crushed to death at Heysel Stadium in Brussels before the start of the European Cup final between Liverpool and the Italian club Juventus.The Hillsborough tragedy culminated a dark decade for English soccer. Fifty-six people were killed when a fire raced through the stands during a Bradford City soccer match on May 11, 1985. Less than three weeks later, 39 people were crushed to death at Heysel Stadium in Brussels before the start of the European Cup final between Liverpool and the Italian club Juventus.