Hillsborough trial: Five accused appear in court 30 years on from stadium disaster

Defendants appear in court for the first time after the Crown Prosecution Service announced in June they would be charged

Former West Yorkshire and Merseyside chief constable Sir Norman Bettison leaves Warrington Magistrates' Court (PA)

Former chief constable Sir Norman Bettison stood in the dock of a courtroom today as a suspect facing criminal charges almost 30 years on from the Hillsborough disaster.

Sir Norman, 61, a former chief constable of West Yorkshire and Merseyside, was flanked by four other men appearing as suspects in court for the first time, charged in connection with the 1989 tragedy and its aftermath.

All the defendants faced a media scrum as they arrived at Warrington Magistrates' Court and inside reporters packed the press benches while more than 30 relatives of the 96 Liverpool fans who died sat in the public gallery.

All five were bailed to appear at Preston Crown Court on 6 September, following a 25-minute hearing dealing largely with administrative matters.

Reporting restrictions were not lifted.

Sir Norman, who was a chief inspector for South Yorkshire Police at the time, is charged with four offences of misconduct in a public office, relating to alleged lies he told in accounts of his involvement in the disaster afterwards.

Alongside him in Courtroom Two were two more former senior police officers at the South Yorkshire force, the former force solicitor and the safety officer for the stadium.

Graham Mackrell, who was Sheffield Wednesday Football Club's company secretary and safety officer, is accused of two offences involving the stadium safety certificate and a health and safety offence.

No formal pleas were entered by the defendants.

Peter Metcalf, the solicitor acting for South Yorkshire Police after the disaster, Donald Denton, a former chief superintendent, and Alan Foster, a former detective chief inspector, all face charges of perverting the course of justice relating to changes made to police officers' witness statements taken after the tragedy.

Match commander David Duckenfield faces 95 counts of gross negligence manslaughter but will not be formally charged and appear in court until an application to lift a stay imposed after a prosecution in 2000 has been approved by a High Court judge.

The five men appeared in court for the first time after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced in June they would be charged.

The decision came after the second inquest into the disaster last year returned verdicts of unlawful killing of the 96 fans.

They were crushed to death in pens at the Leppings Lane end of Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium on 15 April 1989 as their FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest began.

Though 96 died there will be no manslaughter prosecution over the death of Anthony Bland, as he died almost four years later, and under the law in 1989 his death is now "out of time" to be prosecuted.

The five defendants spoke only to confirm their names, addresses and dates of birth, at the start of the hearing and otherwise sat listening to proceedings.

Prosecutor Sarah Whitehouse QC told Senior Dsitrict Judge Emma Arbuthnot, chair of the bench, the charges for Sir Norman, Mr Denton, Mr Foster and Mr Metcalf can only be dealt with at the crown court.

Ms Whitehouse said Mr Metcalf is accused of altering witness statement of police officers, while Denton oversaw the process to which Mr Foster was also "central".

She said Sir Norman allegedly told lies after the disaster while holding the rank of both an assistant and chief constable of in the police.

Christine Agnew QC, acting prosecutor for Mr Mackrell, said he had failed in his responsibilities as safety officer at the club and he faces health and safety charges and charges to do with safety at sports grounds.

His case was also sent to Preston Crown Court to be heard next month.

Jonathon Goldberg QC, representing Mr Metcalf, addressing the court, said the defendants had a right to a fair trial, reporting restrictions were now in place ahead of any trial, and he had copies of the relevant restrictions if members of the press needed reminding.

All the defendants were given unconditional bail by District Judge Arbuthnot, who told them: "You are being sent under various provision to Preston Crown Court and the first appearance there will be on 6 September.

"If you don't attend there will be a warrant for your arrest and the case will take place without you. I'm sure you will attend."

Press Association