Witness recalls Hillsborough 'stampede'

Ninety-six fans died in the crush at Hillsborough

Football fans were running into supporters trying to push them forward outside Sheffield Wednesday's ground minutes before the Hillsborough disaster, a court has heard.

Two former senior police officers are accused of manslaughter at Hillsborough where 96 football fans were crushed to death at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.

There were some supporters who crawled on the their hands and knees under the crowd in an attempt to get further forward

Hillsborough witness

Then match commander Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield and one of his deputies Superintendent Bernard Murray, both former South Yorkshier police officers deny manslaughter of two of the victims on 15 April, 1989.

Mr Duckenfield, 55, of Bournemouth, Dorset, and Mr Murray, 58, of Pontefract, West Yorkshire, also deny wilfully neglecting to carry out their public duty in the private prosecution brought by the Hillsborough Family Support Group.

Defence case begins

At the start of the defence case, witness Emma Louise Lee told Leeds Crown Court she saw fans running into the back of the queue, pushing supporters towards the stadium.

There was an unusually large build-up of supporters outside the Leppings Lane end before kick-off, the jury heard.

Ms Lee, who was 15 at the time and lived near the stadium, said: "People were running into the backs of the crowd that had formed, causing the crowd to push forward.

"There were some supporters who crawled on their hands and knees under the crowd in an attempt to get further forward.

"Some police officers were trying to pull people back but there were so many people that nothing appeared to be happening."

Ms Lee told William Clegg QC, acting for Mr Duckenfield, that she had never seen such a thing happen before.

The prosecution allege that the crush occurred after Exit Gate C was opened to relieve pressure on the turnstiles, causing hundreds of people to flood into the stands.

Caught on camera

John Shrewsbury, series producer for TV's Match of the Day, told the jury he was watching the game from a mobile control room outside the stadium.

The court heard that there were eight BBC cameras inside Hillsborough and Mr Shrewsbury could see all the pictures from his base.

A TV producer tells of how he watched the tragedy unfold

Michael Harrison QC, acting for Mr Murray, said: "Was it not until play had stopped that you began to perceive that there was a tragedy?"

Mr Shrewsbury answered: "It may have been two or three minutes, then it became obvious that there was a major, major problem and probably a tragedy."

The trial judge later discharged the jury from giving a verdict on the charge of wilfully neglecting to carry out a public duty.

Mr Justice Hooper told the jury: "We have considered count three and we have decided it does not really add anything in this case and I am discharging you formally from considering it."

The trial was adjourned until Tuesday.