Let them rest in peace.

[Workingman]

The latest news is that six policemen face charges over the Hillsborough disaster. One of them, Ins David Duckenfield, faces 95 charges of manslaughter.

OK, the relatives want their piece of flesh, and after a number of inquiries they finally got the *right* result, which gives them this chance. However, they need to be aware of any unintended consequences.

Facing 95 charges Duckenfield, Bettison and the others will almost certainly rake over old coals to prove their innocence of the charges before them. The combined affect will be a challenge to the inquest result of "unlawful killing" and will only serve to open old wounds. At the very least they will argue that the supporters did have a place to play in the disaster and that they, the defendants, were not wholly culpable.

All these charges do is open another can of worms - such a shame.

[manxie]

Looking at it with hindsight now though had the authorities admitted to mistakes at the time and not tried to cover it all up hoping in time it would go away, maybe they would have faced less severe charges.

It cannot be denied that a wrong was done then and after by trying to lay the blame anywhere but with the organisers of security etc.

Personally I feel so sorry for the relatives of those lost that day and can see how deeply they want some final ending to their grief, BUT, I can't see these trials doing any good in fact it might make matters worse for some survivers, assuming the laywers acting for the charged will be doing all they can to stop their clients from going to jail, and lastly they are all elderly men now so little will be gained by them going to prison.

Manxie xx

[medsec222]

The one thing I find abhorrent is that Norman Bettison had the gall to apply and actually succeeded in becoming Chief Constable of Merseyside. He wasn't liked and didn't last long.

[TheOstrich]

I'll not comment on the actual Hillsborough tragedy or whether I think the manslaughter charges are appropriate, we've raked over all that before many times, but what I do think is that those police officers accused of manipulating / altering written evidence after the event definitely do need to put in the dock ....

[AliasAggers]

I'll not comment on the actual Hillsborough tragedy or whether I think the manslaughter charges are appropriate, we've raked over all that before many times, but what I do think is that those police officers accused of manipulating / altering written evidence after the event definitely do need to put in the dock ....

Those are my views exactly.

[Workingman]

When the news broke my mind immediately turned to the solicitor who is charged and Norman Bettison.

I would be very surprised if the solicitor and his team do not want a forensic review of how evidence was presented to and accepted by the inquest.

Where Bettison is concerned my fears run much deeper. He was Chief Constable of West Yorkshire, my area, and a self-proclaimed hard-man. He is not one for apologising and I am certain that he will fight tooth and nail using any tactic available to clear his name.

I do understand the feelings of the relatives over this, but I do not see it as being anything more than another slanging match, one that could lead to more anguish.

[Osc]

I'll not comment on the actual Hillsborough tragedy or whether I think the manslaughter charges are appropriate, we've raked over all that before many times, but what I do think is that those police officers accused of manipulating / altering written evidence after the event definitely do need to put in the dock ....

Those are my views exactly.

And mine. You have to wonder, if they did it on this case, on how many others did they behave in the same way.

[manxie]

And mine. You have to wonder, if they did it on this case, on how many others did they behave in the same way.[/quote]

I also think that way too Osc.

Only last night I saw a programme on tv (well a snippet of it) I do think the police can take a "pick" on someone innocent and hound them for years and they never seem to openly admit they are in the wrong.

As everywhere in every trade profession or just as people there are the bad apples, we live in a far from perfect civilisation sadly.

Manxie xx

[cromwell]

Re the altering of police and witness statements by SYP. There were very strong rumours that this had gone on, more than twenty years since. I can't imagine how frustrating it has been for the families, because i'm sure that they were aware of these rumours as well. If the people charged for this are the right ones then I think that they are off to jail, notwithstanding their advanced years. Bettison's charges seem a bit more airy fairy to me.

Time will tell.

[Suff]

Falsifying police records? No issue. Go straight to jail if found out, do not collect your protected pension and be forever barred from police service when you get out.

Charging a senior police officer with the manslaughter of 95 people? People he did not lay a finger on? People who, had his officers been heeded, would still be alive today????? Not sounding very likely to me. How are they going to prove that the officer’s actions were deliberately construed as to cause the deaths of those 95 people?

I can’t see this having a cat in hells chance of a conviction. If they carry on with this headlong path then the only end result I can see is that the inquest result is overturned and it all goes back to square one.

Perhaps this will only ever truly be over when everyone who was there; involved or were alive at the time; have finally died.