The mum of a teenager who died in the Hillsborough disaster has demanded to know who killed her son after the policeman in charge on the day was cleared of manslaughter. Today David Duckenfield, 75, walked free after a six-week trial at Preston Crown Court. He was in charge of the FA Cup semi-final in 1989 at Hillsborough where 96 fans were fatally injured. At a press conference at the Cunard Building after the not guilty verdict was returned, Margaret Aspinall, chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: "I blame a system that's so morally wrong within this country, that's a disgrace to this nation. "When 96 people, they say 95, we say 96, are unlawfully killed and yet not one person is accountable. "The question I'd like to ask all of you and people within the system is who put 96 people in their graves, who is accountable?" The law did not allow prosecution over the death of the 96th victim, Tony Bland, as he died more than a year and a day after his injuries were caused. Brenda Fox, whose son Steven Fox, 21, died in the disaster, thanked the barristers who represented them at the inquests, which ended in 2016. Steve Kelly, whose brother Michael, 38, was killed at Hillsborough, said: "I believe the die was cast many years ago so today's decision is no surprise. "If the evidence uncovered by the Hillsborough Independent Panel report would have been available in a private prosecution back in 2000, I believe Duckenfield would have been convicted then." He said Duckenfield was the man everyone turned to for decisions and he "never stepped up" to avert the disaster. He said: "Now, sadly, the decision we have we will have to get on with our lives, forever cheated. I am and will be forever grateful for others who have supported the campaign for truth, justice and accountability for the 96." He added: "A higher judge will have the last say on this. God bless the 96." Duckenfield and his wife were threatened with physical violence during his trial, it can now be reported. At a hearing in July to decide whether he should face a retrial, his counsel Benjamin Myers QC told the court there had been threats to the former chief superintendent, including a letter. He said: "The letter that was sent was very chilling." In his ruling, Judge Sir Peter Openshaw said 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. "During the last trial there was even evidence from which I felt required to issue injunctions, against named persons, to provide for his protection. Police statement on David Duckenfield not guilty verdict “My first thoughts are with the 96 people who died in the Hillsborough disaster, their families, and the thousands of people who have been deeply affected by the events of 15th April 1989. “The jury had a difficult and
Furious Hillsborough mum demands ‘who killed my son?’ after not guilty verdict
The mum of a teenager who died in the Hillsborough disaster has demanded to know who killed her son after the policeman in charge on the day was cleared of manslaughter. Today David Duckenfield, 75, walked free after a six-week trial at Preston Crown Court. He was in charge of the FA Cup semi-final in 1989 at Hillsborough where 96 fans were fatally injured. At a press conference at the Cunard Building after the not guilty verdict was returned, Margaret Aspinall, chairman of the Hillsborough Family Support Group, said: "I blame a system that's so morally wrong within this country, that's a disgrace to this nation. "When 96 people, they say 95, we say 96, are unlawfully killed and yet not one person is accountable. "The question I'd like to ask all of you and people within the system is who put 96 people in their graves, who is accountable?" The law did not allow prosecution over the death of the 96th victim, Tony Bland, as he died more than a year and a day after his injuries were caused. Brenda Fox, whose son Steven Fox, 21, died in the disaster, thanked the barristers who represented them at the inquests, which ended in 2016. Steve Kelly, whose brother Michael, 38, was killed at Hillsborough, said: "I believe the die was cast many years ago so today's decision is no surprise. "If the evidence uncovered by the Hillsborough Independent Panel report would have been available in a private prosecution back in 2000, I believe Duckenfield would have been convicted then." He said Duckenfield was the man everyone turned to for decisions and he "never stepped up" to avert the disaster. He said: "Now, sadly, the decision we have we will have to get on with our lives, forever cheated. I am and will be forever grateful for others who have supported the campaign for truth, justice and accountability for the 96." He added: "A higher judge will have the last say on this. God bless the 96." Duckenfield and his wife were threatened with physical violence during his trial, it can now be reported. At a hearing in July to decide whether he should face a retrial, his counsel Benjamin Myers QC told the court there had been threats to the former chief superintendent, including a letter. He said: "The letter that was sent was very chilling." In his ruling, Judge Sir Peter Openshaw said 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. "During the last trial there was even evidence from which I felt required to issue injunctions, against named persons, to provide for his protection. Police statement on David Duckenfield not guilty verdict “My first thoughts are with the 96 people who died in the Hillsborough disaster, their families, and the thousands of people who have been deeply affected by the events of 15th April 1989. “The jury had a difficult and
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