BBC Local Live: North West of England on Friday 5 April

Summary

Latest updates on Friday 5 April

Live Reporting

Hillsborough: Support group chairwoman thanks jury as it has 'not been easy for them'published at 16:54 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
Margaret Aspinall, the chairwoman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, has said thanked the jury in the trial of match commander David Duckenfield, saying that it has "not been easy for them as it's not been easy for the families".
Image source, PA
Mrs Aspinall, whose son James died in the disaster, said:
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I'd like to thank the jury for taking weeks of deliberation, it's not been easy for them as it's not been easy for the families.
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I'll organise a family meeting to have a discussion with the families [and] see how they're feeling about going forward again.
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We've got the 30th anniversary coming up in two weeks, which is very difficult anyway.
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Thirty years has been one hell of a long time. I've been living in the past, everything in the past and not able to move forward.
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I ask people to bear with us and not put anything on social media.
Liverpool offer 'support and admiration' to families of Hillsborough victimspublished at 16:25 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
A spokesman for Liverpool says the club "would like to reiterate our support and admiration for the Hillsborough families, survivors and campaigners in light of today’s verdicts".
Image source, Getty Images
In a statement issued after a jury failed to reach a verdict over a charge of gross negligence manslaughter against match commander David Duckenfield, the club spokesman said:
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While forthcoming legal proceedings restrict comment on the outcome of the trial, we acknowledge the guilty verdict for Graham Mackrell and can empathise with the frustration shared by everyone affected by the Hillsborough tragedy that the outcome was not definitive.
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Our thoughts are with all those who continue to be affected by the Hillsborough tragedy and the 96 Liverpool supporters who went to watch their team and never came home.
'Someone held to account for Hillsborough at long last', say mayorspublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
The metropolitan mayors of Liverpool and Greater Manchester have given a joint statement in reaction to today's developments in the Hillsborough trial.
Image source, PA
Steve Rotheram and Andy Burnham said:
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There are many things we would like to say but can’t due to the fact that this is an ongoing process. But we can at least say that, today, at long last, someone has been held to account for what happened
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After 30 years fighting for the truth, through the Hillsborough Independent Panel, the inquests and now this trial, the families have waited long enough.
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We welcome the decision of the Crown Prosecution Service to request a retrial so that the issues of culpability can finally be resolved."
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Today is another difficult day for the families, survivors and the wider community on that long road."
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We will continue to support them every step of the way.
'I don't want a Hillsborough retrial,' says victim's brotherpublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
Steve Kelly, whose brother Michael died in the disaster, said the “tension” during the trial of David Duckenfield was “tremendous" and he "certainly wouldn’t want to go through that again”.
Image source, Family handout via LFC
Image caption,
Steve Kelly's brother Michael travelled to the match on a Liverpool Supporters' Club coach
Speaking after the jury in the case was discharged following their failure to reach a verdict on a charge of gross negligence manslaughter, Mr Kelly said:
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I can only speak personally, I don’t want to see another trial - we’ve been here for nearly 11 weeks and I don’t think I could go through that again and a lot of the elderly family members shouldn’t either.”
Hillsborough victim's daughter 'devastated' at failure to reach a verdictpublished at 15:25 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
Lynsey Barker, whose father Eric Hankin died in the Hillsborough disaster, said she was “absolutely devastated” the jury had failed to reach a verdict in the trial of match commander David Duckenfield.
Image source, Family handout via LFC
Image caption,
Lynsey Barker's father Eric Hankin was 33 when he died at Hillsborough
Speaking after the jury was discharged, she said the families of the victims had “been through it for so long”.
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As families, we've got good support with each other - that’s one of the massive things of this, the 96 families have all stuck together and we will continue to stick together.”
Hillsborough victim's father 'exceedingly disappointed' by lack of verdictpublished at 14:46 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher died in the Hillsborough disaster, has said he is "exceedingly disappointed" that the jury failed to reach a verdict over a gross negligence manslaughter charge against match commander David Duckenfield.
Image source, PA
Speaking after the jury was discharged, Mr Devonside said:
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Most of the families wanted a verdict of one kind or another.
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I, like many people, want a conclusion and Hillsborough to come to an end so we can return, as a family, to some sort of normality.
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We hope for a retrial.
Hillsborough trial: Mackrell sentencing date confirmedpublished at 14:40 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
Judith Moritz
BBC North of England Correspondent
Graham Mackrell, the former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary who has been found guilty of a safety offence in connection to the Hillsborough disaster, will be sentenced on 13 May.
Image source, Getty Images
Hillsborough: Lawyers for David Duckenfield to seek to stay retrialpublished at 14:28 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
Andy Gill
Reporter, BBC North West Tonight
Lawyers for David Duckenfield will attempt to prevent a retrial of the Hillsborough match commander after a jury failed to reach a verdict over a charge of gross negligence manslaughter against him.
The Crown Prosecution Service has said it will seek a retrial.
Hillsborough trial: Operation Resolve to continue to work with CPSpublished at 14:05 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
The officer in charge of Operation Resolve, the criminal investigation into the Hillsborough disaster, said it will continue to "work with and support" the Crown Prosecution Service as they prepare the case for a retrial for David Duckenfield.
Image source, Hillsborough Inquests
A jury was unable to reach a verdict over a charge of gross negligence manslaughter against Mr Duckenfield in relation to the deaths of 95 Liverpool fans in the 1989 disaster.
Assistant Commissioner Rob Beckley recognised the "challenging process" Operation Resolve had undertaken and said the investigation "will continue to keep people informed and updated".
In a statement, he said:
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The Crown Prosecution Service have said that they will seek a retrial for the case in respect of Mr Duckenfield.
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Operation Resolve will continue to work with and support the Crown Prosecution Service as they prepare the case for future court hearings and proceedings.
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We recognise how challenging this process is for all concerned and will continue to keep people informed and updated, especially the families of the victims.
Hillsborough trial: CPS to seek retrial of David Duckenfieldpublished at 13:42 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
In a statement, the Crown Prosecution Service described the trail of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield as "incredibly complex" and said it would seek a retrial.
The jury in the trial of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield has been unable to reach a verdict over the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 men, women and children at the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.
In a tweet, external, Sue Hemming, Director of Legal Services for the Crown Prosecution Service said the service will "meet with families" to answer questions about the process and reminded people criminal proceedings are ongoing:
Image source, CPS
Hillsborough trial: Club safety officer 'failed fans over turnstiles'published at 13:27 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
Graham Mackrell, who was Sheffield Wednesday's safety officer at the time of the Hillsborough disaster, failed fans over the provision of turnstiles, a court has ruled.
Image source, Operation Resolve
The disaster unfolded after a dangerous crush developed outside the Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield as Liverpool supporters arrived for the FA Cup semi-final in 1989.
The jury at Preston Crown Court heard there were just seven turnstiles for the 10,100 Liverpool fans with standing tickets.
Mackrell, 69, was charged with failing to take reasonable care in respect of ensuring there were enough turnstiles to prevent unduly large crowds building up.
Jason Beer QC, defending him, argued the build up outside was caused by other factors, including a lack of police cordons and the unusual arrival pattern of fans.
But a jury found Mackrell guilty of failing to discharge his duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act by a majority of 10 to two.
Prosecutors to seek retrial after no verdict on Hillsborough chiefpublished at 13:15 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
The prosecution say they will seek a retrial after jurors were unable to return a verdict on a gross negligence manslaughter charge against David Duckenfield.
Image source, Hillsborough inquests
The former South Yorkshire Police match commander had been charged over the deaths of 95 Liverpool fans, who died after a fatal crush developed at the Hillsborough stadium in 1989.
But the six men and six women on the jury failed to reach a verdict on Mr Duckenfield despite being given a majority direction of at least 10-2.
Jurors were discharged earlier, on their eighth day of deliberations, at Preston Crown Court.
Hillsborough: The 96 who diedpublished at 13:07 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
During the 10-week trial, jurors heard that 96 men, women and children died as a result of a fatal crush on the Leppings Lane terrace on 15 April 1989.
In 2016, inquests found the 96 victims were unlawfully killed after overcrowding occurred on the terraces of Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium at the start of an FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest football clubs.
The youngest victim was aged 10, the oldest was 67.
Under the law at the time, there can be no prosecution for the 96th victim, Tony Bland, as he died more than a year and a day after the disaster.
Gasps and cheers as Hillsborough families hear trial outcomespublished at 12:56 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
The trial of David Duckenfield and Graham Mackrell at Preston Crown Court has been relayed back to a private viewing room at Liverpool's Cunard building to allow the families of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster to follow proceedings.
About 60 family members gathered there gasped as the jury foreman told the court they could not reach a verdict for Mr Duckenfield on which they were all agreed.
There were cheers as the guilty verdict for Mackrell was announced.
Hillsborough: CPS will seek retrial in case of David Duckenfieldpublished at 12:44 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
The Crown Prosecution Service will seek a retrial in the case of David Duckenfield after the jury in the trial of the Hillsborough match commander failed to reach a verdict.
The former South Yorkshire Police Ch Supt Duckenfield, now 74, had denied the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans.
During the 10-week trial, jurors heard that 96 men, women and children died as a result of a fatal crush on the stadium's Leppings Lane terrace on 15 April 1989.
Under the law at the time, there can be no prosecution for the 96th victim, Tony Bland, as he died more than a year and a day after the disaster.
Ex-Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell has been found guilty of by a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Jurors at Preston Crown Court spent eight days deliberating.
Prosecution to seek retrial in David Duckenfield casepublished at 12:40 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
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Hillsborough verdict: Former club secretary guilty of safety offencepublished at 12:38 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
Ex-Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell has been found guilty of a safety offence relating to the Hillsborough disaster.
Image source, Getty Images
The 69-year-old had responsibility for safety at Sheffield Wednesday's ground, where 96 Liverpool fans died following a crush.
He had denied a safety breach relating to the 1989 disaster at Preston Crown Court.
But the jury found him guilty of failing to discharge his duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act by a majority of 10 to two.
Hillsborough jury fails to reach verdict on David Duckenfield gross negligence manslaughter chargepublished at 12:32 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
The jury in the trial of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield, who was charged with the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans, has been unable to reach a verdict after 29 hours of deliberating.
Image source, Getty Images
Sheffield Wednesday's secretary at the time of the disaster, Graham Mackrell, was found guilty of failing to discharge his duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Hillsborough club secretary guilty of breaching health and safety lawpublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
Breaking
Former Sheffield Wednesday club secretary Graham Mackrell, who had responsibility for safety at Hillsborough in 1989, has been found guilty of failing to discharge his duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Jury fail to reach verdict in trial of Hillsborough match commanderpublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 3 April 2019
Breaking
The jury in the trial of Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield, who was charged with the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans, has failed to reach a verdict.