Hillsborough inquest finds 96 fans were unlawfully killed

The jury answered 14 questions about how people died at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

It found, by a 7-2 majority, that chief superintendent David Duckenfield’s actions amounted to “gross negligence” as he breached his duty of care to the fans, who were aged 10-67 – among them 37 teenagers and 26 parents.

It also found that police mistakes caused a dangerous situation at the turnstiles and not the behaviour of Liverpool fans.

Among its other conclusions were that there were mistakes in the police control box over an order to open the Leppings Lane and exit gates; that the stadium was defective and its safety certification did not reflect this.

The jurors were given a round of applause as they left the courtroom, with someone shouting “God bless the jury.”

A statement on behalf of the families said the jury’s conclusions “completely vindicate” the fight for justice, adding it had brought “significant progress on the journey… and sense of closure to the bereaved.”

Labour MP Andy Burnham, who has supported the families’, said: “This has been the greatest miscarriage of justice of our times. But, finally, it is over.”

People outside the court spontaneously sang You’ll Never Walk Alone as Liverpool flags were raised above their heads.