The trial of two retired police officers and a solicitor accused of perverting the course of justice following the Hillsborough disaster has collapsed after the judge ruled there was no case to answer.

Retired South Yorkshire Police officers Donald Denton, 83, and Alan Foster, 74, and the force’s former solicitor Peter Metcalf, 71, have all been acquitted.

The three men were each accused of two counts of doing acts tending and intended to pervert the course of justice.

It was alleged they were involved in a process of amending officers’ statements to minimise the blame on South Yorkshire Police following the disaster at the FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989, in which 96 Liverpool fans died.

In a ruling handed down at the Nightingale court at the Lowry theatre in Salford on Wednesday, judge Mr Justice William Davis said the amended statements were intended for a public inquiry into safety at sports grounds led by Lord Justice Taylor, but that was not a course of public justice.

Related posts:

Body found by police in Epping Forest lake confirmed as missing Richard Okorogheye Whale put down after becoming stranded in River Thames in London Rules on face masks could be changed next month – health secretary Fake shoes, bags and perfume among huge £500m haul of counterfeit items seized UK records 37,622 new COVID infections and further 147 deaths, latest daily figures show Prince William and Kate visit Northern Ireland and meet student nurses who stepped up during COVID-19 pandemic Kate handles tarantula and bird as she and William meet student nurses in Northern Ireland Fuel crisis ‘back under control’ as petrol station deliveries outweigh sales, minister insists ‘Pilgrims’ procession’ arrives in Glasgow ahead of COP26 and warns of ‘deep existential problem’ Three people dead and one critical after paddleboarding incident in Wales Millions face average £693 energy bill hike – but Sunak offers £350 help UK approves first protein-based COVID vaccine for over-18s to tackle ‘next phase’ of pandemic