Jurors told they must decide who told the truth

Summing up Coroner Sir John Goldring said claims by some South Yorkshire Police officers of drunken, ticketless and unruly Liverpool fans were a “highly controversial” part of the evidence they must consider.

Jurors have been given 14 key questions to answer about the disaster which killed 96 Liverpool fans in April 1989 including police and fan conduct on the day, the role of Match Commander Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield and the emergency response as the disaster unfolded.

Sir John said bereaved families suggest video footage shown to the jury of fans taken in and around the ground in the run-up to kick off was “inconsistent” with police claims of mass drunkenness and “significant misbehaviour”.

Sir John continued: “This is a highly controversial part of the evidence on the day and you will have to make your own assessment and decisions as to what you accept and reject. You will have to resolve the conflict.”

The jury were reminded that most of the accounts given by police which criticised fans were challenged by the families’ lawyers. But “by contrast” the evidence of a number of fans was not challenged.

Jurors were then reminded of evidence heard about the way police statements were taken after the disaster, reviewed and sometimes amended on the advice of lawyers for South Yorkshire Police. Lawyers for the families have challenged the way the statements were produced.

Sir John told the jury: “In short, they put it to the key witnesses that co-ordinated efforts were being made to manipulate the evidence and present a false narrative of the disaster. Those at South Yorkshire Police involved in the process of gathering and amending statements denied that they had done anything improper.

“It is entirely a matter for you what view you take on the way statements were gathered and amended.” The inquest continues.