Hillsborough match commander David Duckenfield’s bid to have his legal costs paid has been rejected by South Yorkshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC).
The former chief superintendent - who faces 95 charges of manslaughter by gross negligence - asked for financial assistance “if necessary [for] the costs of his defence on the charges”, according to a decision notice on PCC Dr Alan Billing’s website.
The notice also revealed Mr Duckenfield has previously received £7.6 million in financial assistance with his Hillsborough legal costs.
Dr Billings said it was not appropriate to fund the request while Mr Duckenfield’s lawyer said his client had “no comment to make”.
A stay on further prosecutions was made to Mr Duckenfield following the conclusion of a private prosecution by Hillsborough families in 2000 when a jury was unable to reach a verdict on manslaughter charges against him.
Mr Duckenfield was among six individuals facing charges when the Crown Prosecution Service announced their decisions in June following lengthy investigations which ran concurrently to the new inquests, which determined in April last year the 96 Liverpool supporters who died on 15th April 1989 were unlawfully killed.
That stay has to be lifted by the High Court before Mr Duckenfield can be formally charged by the CPS.
Hillsborough charges announced
Dr Billings said he had to take into account “the finite resources available to South Yorkshire Police in the coming years, and the impact that the decision to agree to the request could have on the budget commitments on the force.”
He confirmed Mr Duckenfield had already received financial support worth around £7.6m, in relation to legal costs incurred during a private prosecution and the new inquests.
Hillsborough Law
He also said the National Secretary of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales wrote to him earlier this month asking him to reconsider his decision over the funding.
“We are a staff association and it is our responsibility to look after the interests of the members we represent,” said Ch Supt Dan Murphy, National Secretary.
“Every person, regardless of the charges they face, is entitled to a fair trial and a proper legal defence. We believe the decision by the PCC not to fund these legal costs sends a message to every police officer that they may not be supported”.
Dr Billings said he has assessed the issues raised by the association but would not change his decision.
Six people currently face charges relating to the Hillsborough disaster.
