Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield is found not guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 Liverpool fans
Jury at Preston Crown Court was sent out to consider its verdict at 14:20 on Monday
The jury returned its verdict after nearly 14 hours of deliberation
While 96 fans died in Britain's deadliest sporting disaster, no manslaughter charge could be brought over the final victim's death
This is because Tony Bland died more than a year and a day after the 15 April 1989 disaster
That concludes our live coverage of the David Duckenfield retrial verdict.
Please see our news story which will continue to be updated with any developments throughout the evening.
The "real pain" for the families of Hillsborough is that 30 years on "no-one is culpable" for the disaster, says a member of the Hillsborough Independent Panel.
Image source, Getty ImagesProf Phil Scraton said "lessons must be learnt".
"The whole purpose of the justice system is that it is fair and it is just and most importantly it is speedy".
He said one of the main issues with the case was that so many people involved on the day of the disaster had died.
"I don't know to this day why the Crown Prosecution Service or the DPP didn't consider there was sufficient evidence to pursue a case against a range of people and institutions at the time."
The sister of one of the Hillsborough victims said David Duckenfield's trial had come "decades too late".
Image source, Hillsborough Inquests"If we would have had a criminal trial 30 years ago it would have been put to bed by now," said Debbie Matthews, whose brother Brian was one of the 96 who died.
"We've not been allowed to grieve."
In a joint statement, Merseyside Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said the British legal system was "not a level playing field for ordinary people".
Former culture secretary Andy Burnham was instrumental in setting up the panel that produced the report into the Hillsborough disaster.
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Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield and his wife were threatened with physical violence during his trial, it can now be reported.
Image source, GettJudge Sir Peter Openshaw said Mr Duckenfield had been the subject of "persistent personal abuse" in the media and social media which was "ill-informed, insulting and even vicious".
He said: "Over and above that he, and his wife, have been threatened with personal violence.
"After the [original April] trial, he received an anonymous threat sent by mail to his home address (with a local postmark) causing further real concern that someone who wished him ill knew where he lived."
Sir Peter ordered the retrial of to go ahead "despite the hardship that might result to the defendant".
Police officers were seen outside the court as Mr Duckenfield arrived and left court every day.
Lancashire Police did not confirm the number of officers deployed but said the force was responsible for a "security and reassurance operation" around the court.
David Duckenfield previously admitted his failure to close a tunnel caused the 96 deaths at Hillsborough.
The match commander made his admission while being cross-examined at the new inquests in March 2015, when he also apologised to the victims' families.
At his retrial at Preston Crown Court, Mr Duckenfield was found not guilty of the gross negligence manslaughter of 95 fans in the 1989 disaster.
The Hillsborough match commander apologised to the families
Stephen Kelly, whose brother Michael died in the Hillsborough disaster, said he was "absolutely shattered" by the verdict.
Image source, Hillsborough InquestsMichael Kelly died in the disaster
Quote MessageIt's been a 30-year wait to hear that. It was like a dagger to the heart, it was just unbelievable.
Quote MessageI thought our team presented a good enough case to prompt a guilty verdict and its hard to sit here now and think now that there is no-one being held accountable for 96 people being unlawfully killed sadly for whatever reason.
Quote MessageWe have all aged through this process, it is so, so difficult.
Image source, PAStephen Kelly said the process had been difficult
The mother of 17-year-old Hillsborough victim Keith McGrath has called the verdict in the David Duckenfield retrial "cruel".
Image source, Getty ImagesQuote MessageI haven't been able to grieve for my son because I've been so preoccupied with campaigning like every one of the families to try and get justice. That word does not exist in this country.
Mary Corrigan, Mother of Keith McGrath
Jenni Hicks, the mother of of two sisters who died in the Hillsborough disaster, said she was "very disappointed" with the verdict.
She said:
Quote MessageWhat the country needs to remember is that this shouldn't take away the unlawfully killed verdict that we had in the 2016 inquests, which is basically gross negligence manslaughter to a criminal standard and yet when you take it to a criminal court it doesn't stand up, so it is very confusing.
Quote MessageAnd we've now got to live with knowing that all of our loved ones were unlawfully killed - who is accountable for the deaths then?
Quote MessageThere's got to be something wrong with the system, it is totally wrong.
Barry Devonside said he was “shocked and stunned” by the verdict.
Image source, Hillsborough InquestsHis son Christopher died in the Hillsborough disaster. He said:
Quote MessageWe - the families - have fought valiantly for 30 years.
Quote MessageWe have been tested by the system and my faith has been knocked completely by this verdict today.
Liverpool Football club has tweeted to remind fans to exercise caution and restraint when posting on social media.
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Assistant Commissioner Rob Beckley, the officer in overall command of the Operation Resolve criminal inquiry into the Hillsborough disaster, said he respected the jury's decision.
Chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group Margaret Aspinall, whose son James died in the disaster, talks of her anger and the suffering of the families involved.
Margaret Aspinall reacts to Duckenfield trial verdict
The Liverpool Echo reporter who has covered David Duckenfield's retrial has written a strong condemnation of the retired chief superintendent , externaleven though he has been acquitted of gross negligence manslaughter.
Quote MessageThe Hillsborough match commander was cleared of gross negligence manslaughter. But his acquittal does not undo his shameful lie. David Duckenfield is not a criminal,a jury has decided. And it is not his fault those who deserved to face the same scrutiny he did will never be held accountable for the deaths of the 96. But while his acquittal means he did not fail to a criminal standard, it does not mean he did not fail at all. Nor does it mask the fact he lied.
Joe Thomas,, Liverpool Echo
Image source, PA MediaDavid Duckenfield's lawyer Ian Lewis, of JMW Solicitors, has given this statement on behalf of his client.
Quote MessageDavid is of course relieved that the jury has found him not guilty, however his thoughts and sympathies remain with the families of those who lost their loved ones.
Quote Message"He understands the public interest in this case, but would ask that his privacy and that of his family is respected, and will not be commenting further.
Ian Lewis, Solicitor
The chair of the Hillsborough Family Support Group has demanded to know who is accountable for the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans at Hillsborough.
Image source, Getty ImagesSpeaking at a press conference at the Cunard building in Liverpool, Margaret Aspinall, whose son James died in the 1989 tragedy, said: "I'm so angry.
"I blame a system that's so morally wrong within this country, that's a disgrace to this nation.
"Who is responsible for putting 96 people in their graves?"
She added: "The families have gone through hell... please God give them some peace."
The final question the judge asked jurors to consider before deciding David Duckenfield's fate was: "Are you sure that David Duckenfield's breach - or breaches - of duty amounted to gross negligence?"
Quote MessageFor negligence to be found to be 'gross', it must be, having regard to the foreseeable risk of death, so truly and exceptionally bad, so blameworthy, so reprehensible and so deserving of punishment, that it deserves to be marked by conviction of the serious crime of manslaughter.
Judge Sir Peter Openshaw
The judge asked jurors to ask themselves whether they were "sure David Duckenfield's breach - or breaches - of duty of care caused, or at least substantially contributed, to the deaths?"
The jury was told the prosecution did not have to prove Mr Duckenfield's breach was the only cause of the deaths, or the main cause, but that it was at least one of the substantial contributory causes.
Judge Sir Peter Openshaw told jurors that in order to convict David Duckenfield of gross negligence manslaughter they had to consider five key questions, including: "Are you sure it was reasonably foreseeable that the defendant's breach - or breaches - of duty would cause a serious and obvious risk of death to spectators by crushing?
He told jurors they must be sure what Mr Duckenfield did or did not do caused a reasonably foreseeable, serious and obvious risk of death to the spectators.
Quote MessageWhat was 'reasonably foreseeable' is a matter of fact and degree for you, the jury, to decide in the light of all the relevant circumstances as you find them to be."
Judge Sir Peter Openshaw
Jurors were ordered by the judge whether they were sure David Duckenfield was in breach of his duty of care.
The prosecution alleged Mr Duckenfield had breached his duty of care by failing to:
Jurors were told in order to find Mr Duckenfield guilty they would all need to be satisfied he was in breach of his duty in at least one of the ways alleged and to agree on which of the breaches were proved.
