This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-merseyside-30999713
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Hillsborough inquests: Police 'intimidated' survivor during questioning | Hillsborough inquests: Police 'intimidated' survivor during questioning |
(3 months later) | |
Police investigating the Hillsborough disaster were "intimidating" and "aggressive" when questioning a survivor, the inquests have been told. | Police investigating the Hillsborough disaster were "intimidating" and "aggressive" when questioning a survivor, the inquests have been told. |
Ian Lee, who was in the crush in pen four, said he was interviewed by two officers who were "professional" and "relaxed" at first. | Ian Lee, who was in the crush in pen four, said he was interviewed by two officers who were "professional" and "relaxed" at first. |
But he said their mood changed when he said the main reason for what happened was a lack of police and stewards. | But he said their mood changed when he said the main reason for what happened was a lack of police and stewards. |
Ninety-six Liverpool fans died after the terrace crush on 15 April 1989. | Ninety-six Liverpool fans died after the terrace crush on 15 April 1989. |
Mr Lee told the court the crush was so intense in the pen that his arms were "pinned down and I had no control over movement". | Mr Lee told the court the crush was so intense in the pen that his arms were "pinned down and I had no control over movement". |
West Midlands Police were asked to investigate the disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium in the days that followed. | West Midlands Police were asked to investigate the disaster at Sheffield Wednesday's stadium in the days that followed. |
The court heard that two officers took a statement from Mr Lee, a Liverpool season ticket holder, dated 4 May 1989. | The court heard that two officers took a statement from Mr Lee, a Liverpool season ticket holder, dated 4 May 1989. |
Mr Lee had called the force on 27 April responding to an appeal for witnesses to get in touch. | Mr Lee had called the force on 27 April responding to an appeal for witnesses to get in touch. |
He said the officers were "initially very professional, very courteous" and they appeared "to be attentive to the evidence that was given". | He said the officers were "initially very professional, very courteous" and they appeared "to be attentive to the evidence that was given". |
But Mr Lee said their attitude changed "when the issue of apportioning blame for the tragedy became evident". | But Mr Lee said their attitude changed "when the issue of apportioning blame for the tragedy became evident". |
He added: "I said at the time, and have maintained through all the time, that the primary reason for the tragedy was the lack of policing and stewarding on the day. | He added: "I said at the time, and have maintained through all the time, that the primary reason for the tragedy was the lack of policing and stewarding on the day. |
"When we got on to that subject, the mood of both officers changed significantly. | "When we got on to that subject, the mood of both officers changed significantly. |
"They sat forward, tried to become more intimidating, became more aggressive in their questioning. | "They sat forward, tried to become more intimidating, became more aggressive in their questioning. |
"Every time I tried to put my story forward they all tried to drag it back to fans - the fans drinking, fans' behaviour, so it all became fan-centric, rather than trying to accept what I put forward as a statement." | "Every time I tried to put my story forward they all tried to drag it back to fans - the fans drinking, fans' behaviour, so it all became fan-centric, rather than trying to accept what I put forward as a statement." |
Mr Lee also said he signed every page of a handwritten statement but "by the end of the interview, I probably didn't give it the due diligence it deserved". | Mr Lee also said he signed every page of a handwritten statement but "by the end of the interview, I probably didn't give it the due diligence it deserved". |
He said officers asked him to read it through but did not give him an opportunity to "rectify or change anything at the time". | He said officers asked him to read it through but did not give him an opportunity to "rectify or change anything at the time". |
The court heard the statement did include many of the criticisms Mr Lee had about the FA Cup semi-final, but Mr Lee said one sentence about fans without tickets being allowed to get too close to the ground was "misleading". | The court heard the statement did include many of the criticisms Mr Lee had about the FA Cup semi-final, but Mr Lee said one sentence about fans without tickets being allowed to get too close to the ground was "misleading". |
He said the rest of the statement was accurate, although the "emphasis" was different. | He said the rest of the statement was accurate, although the "emphasis" was different. |
BBC News: Profiles of all those who died | BBC News: Profiles of all those who died |
The jury at the coroner's court in Warrington also heard from Debbie Routledge who survived the crush in the neighbouring pen to Mr Lee's. | The jury at the coroner's court in Warrington also heard from Debbie Routledge who survived the crush in the neighbouring pen to Mr Lee's. |
Ms Routledge told the court she arrived at the stadium early to get a good position to watch the match at the front of pen three. | Ms Routledge told the court she arrived at the stadium early to get a good position to watch the match at the front of pen three. |
But she said "all of a sudden it got very full, very quickly". | But she said "all of a sudden it got very full, very quickly". |
She added: "I felt one surge and I was able to push myself back and then I felt a second surge and I couldn't move." | She added: "I felt one surge and I was able to push myself back and then I felt a second surge and I couldn't move." |
She said she was only able to escape around 20 minutes later. | She said she was only able to escape around 20 minutes later. |
Ms Routledge also said she saw police officers pushing fans back into the pen through a gate which opened in the fencing. | Ms Routledge also said she saw police officers pushing fans back into the pen through a gate which opened in the fencing. |
She said one fan who got out of the pen shouted at police to "do something". | She said one fan who got out of the pen shouted at police to "do something". |
"It was at that point only when the police actually came to the front of the fence," she said. | "It was at that point only when the police actually came to the front of the fence," she said. |
Asked what the police response to the disaster was like, she said: "It was slow and it was confused and it was chaos." | Asked what the police response to the disaster was like, she said: "It was slow and it was confused and it was chaos." |
The inquests continue. | The inquests continue. |