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Hillsborough: Criminal charges against six people over stadium crush

Criminal charges have been brought against six individuals, including former senior police officers, over the Hillsborough disaster.

They are:

:: David Duckenfield, who was the South Yorkshire Police match commander on the day of the disaster

:: Sir Norman Bettison, a former South Yorkshire Police chief inspector and superintendent

:: Graham Henry Mackrell, who was Sheffield Wednesday Football Club's company secretary and safety officer at the time of the disaster

:: Peter Metcalf, a solicitor who acted for the South Yorkshire Police

:: Donald Denton, a former South Yorkshire Police chief superintendent

:: Alan Foster, a former South Yorkshire Police detective chief inspector

Ninety-six men, women and children were killed in the stadium crush on 15 April 1989.

:: Families applaud news of Hillsborough charges

Duckenfield has been charged with the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 of the 96 Liverpool FC fans who died at the FA Cup semi-final.

There will be no manslaughter prosecution over the death of the 96th casualty, Anthony Bland, because he died almost four years after the disaster, prosecutors said.

Bettison is accused of four counts of misconduct in public office.

These charges relate to telling alleged lies about his involvement in the aftermath of Hillsborough and the culpability of fans, the CPS said.

Denton, Foster and Metcalf are charged with doing acts with intent to pervert the course of justice relating to material changes made to witness statements.

Mackrell is charged with three offences relating to health and safety at sports grounds.

Barry Devonside, whose son Christopher, 18, was killed in the disaster, pumped his fist as he emerged from the meeting with lawyers and other relatives of the 96 victims.

"Everybody applauded when it was announced that the most senior police officer on that particular day will have charges presented to him," he said.

"It was only right and proper that we fought for our loved ones... I was frightened we were going to be let down again.

"We have been smacked in the face on a number of occasions. The families have acted with the utmost of dignity."

:: Sombre, significant day in Hillsborough fight

Sky's Mike McCarthy was at Hillsborough during the 1989 disaster and was with victims' families when they were told the news that charges would be brought.

He said: "This is without doubt a critical decision, a crucial decision in their long campaign. It isn't, of course, the end of the road. Prosecutions are one thing, what the families will be looking for are successful prosecutions.

"In a way we're pressing the reset button. We're going back 28 years to that day - 15 April 1989 - and we're starting afresh as far as families are concerned."

:: In full: CPS statement on Hillsborough charges

The defendants will appear at Warrington Magistrates' Court in August, with the exception of Duckenfield who will not appear at this stage for legal reasons.