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<p>This was a complex and harrowing case. Every effort was made to build a robust
case for prosecution, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors and the case
was handled by a team of experienced specialist prosecutors.</p><p> </p><p>As it involved
the prosecution of more than one defendant, it is not possible to state definitively
the total costs in relation to the prosecution of David Duckenfield alone. In June
2017, David Duckenfield, the police commander in charge of safety during the Hillsborough
stadium disaster, was charged with gross negligence manslaughter. At trial in April
2019, the jury was unable to reach a verdict against David Duckenfield, while a second
defendant, Graham Mackrell, was convicted of a health and safety offence. In November
2019, after a retrial at Preston Crown Court, the jury found David Duckenfield not
guilty.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS estimates the cost of legal counsel fees and other prosecution
costs for the prosecution of both David Duckenfield and Graham Mackrell to be approximately
£1.97 million. CPS records do not capture the cost of the time spent by internal CPS
staff on this case.</p><p> </p><p>The CPS cannot comment on costs incurred by the
police, HM Courts and Tribunals, or any other partners in this case. Nor can the CPS
comment on the private prosecution referred to in the question, which was brought
against David Duckenfield by the Hillsborough Family Support Group in 2000.</p>
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