INQUISITION89 3 4

An inquisition taken for our Sovereign Lady the Queen

At C o r o n e r s C o u r t inthe W e st D i s t r i c t of S o u t h Y o r k s h i r e

On the 1 8 t h day of A p r i l 19 89

[Andby adjournment On v a r i o u s d a t e s up t o a n d i n c l u d i n g t h e

<3&8ikx day of 19 91 1

[Before and by] t1] me STEFAN LEOPOLD POPPER

One of Her Majesty’s coroners for tbessatft S o u t h Y o r k s h i r e ( W e s t ) D i s t r i c t

[and the undermentioned jurors] touching on the death ofVICTORIA JANE HICKS

The following matters are found1 Name of deceased

VICTORIA JANE HICKS

2 Injury or disease causing death: [2]1 ( a ) T r a u m a t ic A s p h y x ia

3 Time, place and circumstances at or in which injury was sustained: [3]

'DxoA on iW 16 April as a vosoUb oj cn*sK irypnaat/uxci a t HvU. \oe>ro0 rv Fook-baJJl 0rot>id 5W(L \al<i.

4 Conclusion of the jury/coroner as to the death: [4]

5 Particulars for the time being required by the Registration Acts to be registered concerning the death

€a Date and place of birth

j 2 0 . 7 . 1 9 7 3 ___________ B e d f o r d

b Name and surname of deceased

V i c t o r i a J a n e H i c k s

e Date and place of death 1 5 . 4 . 8 9 S h e f f i e l dN o r t h e n G e n e r a l H o s p i t a l

c Sex F e m a le

d Maiden surname of a woman who has married

f Occupation and usual addressS c h o o l g i r l . D a u g h t e r o f T r e v o r H i c k s a M a n a g i n g D i r e c t o r a n d J e n n i f e r H i c k s . T e c h n i c i a n now

s t u d e n t .

Signature

Signature of jurors:

Please turn over

NOTES

1 Modify this as necessary according to whether the inquest is held with or without a jury or partly with and partly without a jury.

2 In the case of a death from natural causes or from industrial disease, want of attention at birth, chronic alcoholism or addiction to drugs insert the immediate cause of death and morbid conditions (if any) giving rise to the immediate cause of death.

3 Omit this if the cause of death is one to which Note 2 applies.

4 a Where the cause of death is one to which Note 2applies, it is suggested that one of the following forms be adopted:

C.D. died from natural causes.

C.D. died from the industrial disease of

C.D. died from dependence on drugs/non-dependable on drugs.

C.D. died from want of attention at birth.

(In any of the above cases, but in no other, it is suggested that the following words may, where appropriate, be added:"and the cause of death was aggravated by lack of care/self-neglect’).

b In any other case except murder, manslaughter, infanticide or stillbirth, it is suggested that one of the following forms be adopted:

C.D. killed himself/herself (whilst the balance of his/her mind was disturbed).

C.D. died as the result of an attempted/self­induced abortion.

C.D. died as the result of an accident/misadventure.

C.D. was killed lawfully.

Open verdict, namely, the evidence did not fully or further disclose the means whereby the cause of death arose.

c In the case of murder, manslaughter or infanticide it is suggested that the following form be adopted.

C.D. was killed unlawfully.

d In the case of a stillbirth insert 'stillbirth1 and do not complete the remainder of the form.

Price £4.00 for 25 copies or £14.00 for 100 copies (exclusive of tax)

ISBN 011 340764 5Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majesty's Stationery Office Dd 291453 C130 11/88

Date 19

Cause of death

Verdict

STEFAN L POPPER, LL.B., B.MED.Sci., B.M., B.S., M.R.C.Q.P.

CORONER

OFFICE OF H.M. CORONER FOR

. SOUTH YORKSHIRE (West District)

MEDICO-LEGAL CENTRE, WATERY STREET SHEFFIELD S3 7ET

Telephone: SHEFFIELD (0742) 738721 19

Your Ref: DRF/SB/WHELAN

S ilve rman-L ive rmo re, Solicitors,11/13 Victoria Street, Liverpool. L2 5QQ.

Our Ref: Hills/Sol/4/SLP/JT 17th September 1990

Dear Sirs,

Re: RESUMED INQUESTS 19th NOVEMBER 1990.

If you are not already aware, I intend to resume the Inquests into the deaths of the 95 people who died at Hillsborough, one or more of whom you represent, on the 19th of November 1990 at 10.a.m. Details of venue will be notified in due course.

I do not have to remind you of the fact that a considerable amount of evidence has already been taken, nor of the nature and limitations of a coronal investigation which you will recollect is not adversarial but inquisitorial in nature, and which of course has only limited objectives.

Subject to the Coroners’ Act 1988 and the Coroners’ Rules, the Inquest is under my control, and in particular, it is my responsibility to select the witnesses who wish to give evidence. I am at present engaged in considering this and in determining who I wish to invite to attend.

Without prejudice in any way to my rights in the matter, I am writing to you to give you an opportunity to draw to my attention the names and other appropriate details of any witness or witnesses whom you would like me to consider calling to give evidence at the resumed Inquests.

May I please ask you in considering whether you wish to draw any names to my attention, to bear in mind the scope and limitations of an Inquest.

I also want to make it absolutely clear that the submission of a name or names for consideration is nothing more than that, and that the decision as to who to call to give evidence is and remains a matter for me.

I would be grateful if you could respond as soon as possible. If I have not heard from you by tt I will assume you have no names to

o

Yours faithfully

submit.

R3606 i srL.tamper, LM&ftft.'lH.M. Coroner.

OFFICE OF H.M. SORONER FOR

OUTH YORKSHIREWest District)

/ /STEFAN L. POPPER, LL.B., B.MED.Soi.. B W y ^ S .. M.R.C^Q.P.

; / CORONER

SLP/OT7H/006,

Telephone: SHE^FIEL^,/(0742) 738721

MEDICO-LEGAL CENTRE, WATERY STREET SHEFFIELDS3 7ET * •«««**»

21stAti«aat 1989

Si&terman Livermore, / 11/13 Victoria Str Liverpool*

^eJ VICTORIA (dec«aa«d) Ho.89.

As you' are aware, the Inquest(s) arising out of the Hillsborough Disaster stand adjourned to a date to be fixed. You may also be aware that it had been in my mind to resume these Inquests on the 15th of January 1990.

I have now been informed that the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to have a criminal investigation undertaken on his behalf.! In these circumstances, I have decided not- to resume the Inquest(s) on the date mentioned.

//■■. /I will review the matter further after the Director of Public Prosecutions has announced his decision as to what action (if any) he majr/wish to undertake.

I am not in a position to say how long the Police Inquiry or the Director of Public Prosecutions consideration of the matter will take. I anticipate however that there will be a substantial period of time before I am in a position to communicate on/this matter further.

I would be grateful if you could please ensure that this information is conveyed to members of the bereaved family so that they may be fully informed of the position regarding the Inquest(s).

Yours faithfully,

S.L.Popper,H.M. Coroner.

J’Fiinimrsn

J S M M M M

Silverman* LivermoreS O L I C I T O R S

11/13 Victoria Street, Liverpool L2 5QQ Telephone: 051 227 1871. DX: 14190. Fax: 051 255 0216

■Dr S L Popper HM Coroner for Sheffield Medico Legal Centre Watery Street Sheffield S3 7ET

Our ref: DRF/SB/McBRIEN/HILLSB

Your ref:

When calling please ask for: MR FRASER

AT.

Zi>3 °

(#U

<P&

W /

<

■$=j-

q(i-

■Oi

3rd August 1989

Dear Sir

RE: HILLSBOROUGH

Many thanks for your letter of the 27th July enclosing copies of the Post-Mortem Reports.

I will certainly make clear to my clients the conditions under which these Reports have been released.

A cheque for £26.95 to cover your copying charges is attached, might I trouble you for a receipt for accounting purposes.

Since I gave you my list of deceased a further one has been added, he is John McBrien night I pleasehave a copy of his Report to complete the set.

Yours faithfully AO W fc C tu e ^£.-Tv>tt-vo«SO

' <V' S C=\

A.F. FARRAND LL.B., C.P. STEBBING LL.B., E.M. SHELVEY LL.B., D.R. FRASER, J.L. WALKER LL.B., Sir HARRY LIVERMORE (Consultant).

Also at: Rutland House Mall, Shopping City, Runcorn WA7 2ES. Tel: 714121. Fax: 09828 718135 137 Leathers Lane, Halewood, L26 0TS. Tel: 051-486 0131/2

This firm is rem lated by the Law Society in the conduct of Investment Business.VAT Reg. No. 164 4312 81

ck_ ''’’"Sft.i* OFFICE OF H.M. CORONER FOR

14' t the. n SOUTH YORKSHIRE (West District)

STEFAN L. POPPER, LL.B., 8.MED.Soi.. S.M., S.S., M.RC.G.P.CORONER

Telephone: SHEFFIELD (0742) 738721

SLP/JT/H/H'!/001 •

MEDICO-LEGAL CENTRE, WATERY STREET SHEFFIELD S3 7ET

27thJuly 19.89.

Silverman Livermore, ll/l? Victoria Street,Liverpool. L2 50,Q.

Dear Sirs,

(0 You "ill be aware that I do not normally release post mortemreports until ths resumption of the Inquest, -men they are in fact put in as evidence.

However, in view of the numerous requests xs’hich I have received, and the obvious distress which delay is causing to your clients, I have decided that subject to certain conditions set out below,

prepared to release to you upon request, the post mortem 0 *report of your client^)

Ihe release of these post mortem reports are cn the basis that:-■

a. They have to be treated as provisional, and th e re fo re subject to amendment or alteration until such time as they are given or produced in evidence at the Inquest.

b. xney are to oe used only for the purpose of bereavement conselling of the deceased's relatives or for proper

_ legitimate purposes in connection with any legal proceedingsin which solicitors may be engaged.

c. subject to ~n£'caQQve 1 they are to be kept confidential until ~hey come into the public domain at the resumed Inauests.

I have yc-ur request for the post mortem report to hand, in respect of each of the persons listed on the attached sheet, and on the assumption thax you will confirm that the report in restiect of each of your respective clients is accepted on the terms set out above, and in order to save further delay and upset to your client,I enclose a copy of the relevant post mortem report. If for any reason you cannot agree to the contents of this letter, please return the post mortem report to me, without of course making any use of it.

The cost for the copy post mortem report(s) is ■?*/ per sheet (total £ U JY ' ) Please make your cheques payable to the City of Sheffield.

Yours faithfully,

38606

S.L.Popper, Eul-L Coroner.

S il verman • LivermoreIII

S O L I C I T O R S11/13 Victoria Street, Liverpool L2 5QQ

Telephone: 051 227 1871. DX: 14190. Fax: 051 255 0216

Mr S L PopperH.M Coroner for South Yorkshire Medico Legal Centre Watery Street Sheffield

Our ref: DRF/ SB

Your ref:

When calling please ask for: MR FRASER

S3 7ET

4th July 1989

Dear Mr Popper

I write following my very helpful conversation this afternoon with Mr Thompson from your office to confirm a number of points.

Firstly, I understand that you are .favourably inclined towards the requests that you have recieved from a number of Solicitors to release copies of the Post-Mortem Reports on the victims of the Hillsborough Disaster in advance of resumed Inquest Hearings and in this regard might I ask you to let me have copies of the Reports on the deceased named in the attached list the families of whom I respresent.

There is a strong feeling from many of the families that early receipt of copies of the P.M. Reports would be beneficial both in terms of answering some hiterto unanswered questions and also in perhaps reducing the anguish which might be suffered when full details of the cause of death become known at a public hearing perhaps some weeks or months hence.

If payment is required for copies of any of the Reports then needless to say I will be happy to deal with this.

I understand that the relative positions of approximately 50 of those who suffered fatal injuries has been established at or immediately prior to the estimated time of death, this information is being generally discussed and although I am not asking you at this stage to release the names of the 50 involved I would be very greatful if you would confirm that this information is correct, perhaps the number has increased from 50? Would it be your intention to release this information prior to reopening of the inquests?

Finally, I confirm that I will speak to my fellow committee members tomorrow

(Wednesday) about the issue of 'block representation' of the bereaved families at the

A.F. FARRAND LL.B., C.P. STEBBINO LL.B.. E.M. SHELVEY LL.B., D R. FRASER, J.L. WALKER LL.B., Sir HARRY LIVERMORE (Consultant).

Also at: Rutland House Mall, Shopping City, Runcorn WA7 2ES. Tel: 714121. Fax: 09828 718135 137 Leathers Lane, Halewood. L26 0TS. Tel: 051-486 0131/2

This firm is regulated by the Law Society in the conduct of Investment Business.VAT Re?. No. 164 *312 31

resumed hearing and will get back to you with their feelings but I am happy to confirm in the meantime that if you feel it would be beneficial I would be more than happy to come and see you in Sheffield for a general discussion.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Youqq pipcerely

.ser

A member of Hillsborough Steering Committee

S O L I C I T O R S11/13 Victoria Street, Liverpool L2 5QQ

Telephone; 051 227 1871. DX; 14190. Fax: 051 255 0216

• Mr S L Popper H.M Coroner for South Yorkshire Medico Legal Centre Watery Street Sheffield S3 7ET

Our ref: DRF/SB

Your ref:

When calling please ask for: jyjp FRASER

16th May 1989

Dear Sir

With my sincere apologies for the delay in forwarding it I am enclosing list containing details of the name and addresses of the fans who died at Hillsborough for whose next of kin we act.

If I can be of any further assistance concerning any of the names on the list please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

A.F. F A R R A N D LL.B.. C.P. S T E B B I N G LL.B.. E.M. S H E L V E Y LL.B.. E. L E A S K LL.B., D.R. F R A S E R . J.L. W A L K E R LL.B.. Sir H A R R Y L I V E R M O R E (Consultant) .

Also at: Rutland House Mall . Shopping City. Runcorn W A 7 2ES. Tel: 714121 . Fax: 0 9 8 2 8 71 8 135

137 Leathers Lane. Ha le wood L26 0TS . Tei: 05 i 486 013 1 /2 County House , 6 4A Derby Road , Huyton . Liverpool L36 9UL. Tel: 051 480 2188

This firm is regulated bv the Law Society in the conduct of Investment Business.V A T Reg. N o ’ 164 4 312 81

*

TH/ATR 9 October 1990

Dr S L Popper H M Coroner Medico Legal Centre Watery S t r e e t S h e f f ie ld S3 7ET

Dear Dr Popper

Thank you fo r your l e t t e r of 1: October regard ing the resumed inques t s . T he reby r e tu r n th e proforma duly completed.

Please accept my apologies fo r the delay in responding but as you wi l l see I have now moved and did not r ece ive the l e t t e r u n t i l today, due to i t having to be r e - d i r e c t e d . Could you p lease amend your records accordingly and address a l l f u tu r e correspondence to th e above.

Yours ^4*}cer^y______

' \ 7 ~ -

Trevor Hicks

"Sheffield Coroners Court 24/4/90

INQUEST INTO DEATH OF VICTORIA JANE HICKS

Questions and matters arising from "Summaries" and evidence todate.

Q's. to Dr. Denmark - Autopsy

For the record can Dr. Denmark confirm that these are the result of the adrenelin/ others substances administered by the Northern General Staff during the resusitation attempt.

can Dr. Denmark comment as to wether this is "normal" and possible cause /effect.

can Dr. Denmark comment on the circumstances that could lead to an injury of this type & and had resusitation been successful would Victoria have survived/' suffered further.

can Dr. Denmark please comment on possible cause and effect.

4.General questions -

a) Would attempts at fibrilation on Saturday leave indications that would be visible at post-mortem and did Victoria's body show such signs.

b) in Dr. Denmarks opinion,and based purely on his experience and general impression of her body at post-mortem, did Victoria suffer more, or the same than is the average one could expect under the circumstances.

Statement & Q's to Dr. Wardrope

Dr. Wardrope, Mr Hicks as you may already be aware,accompanied Victoria to the Northern General Hospital and was present at the initial "treatment" in casualty. He also heard at the opening day of the generic evidence that no. notes exist regarding Victoria's treatment.

Mr & Mrs Hicks wish to state publicly and for the record that whilst this is regrettable and should not have happened they agree

with your comments on the opening day that priority was given to patient care & Mr-Hicks reiterates his opinion that the medical staff appeared to be "flat out", in control, and doing all that they could in extremely difficult circumstances.Please relay their gratitude to all concerned.

Having stated the foregoing two questions require to be cleared up: -

1.Could Dr, Wardrope confirm that the needle marks refferred to in the post-mortem were a result of the resusitation attempt.

2. Could Dr.Wardrope confirm wether fibrilation was attempted or not. and i f not why not.

Q & statement to Det.Sgt Me Combie.

1. Having considered the various statements that exist regarding timing of any initial treatment, is it your opinion that Victoria recieved resuscitation attempts at the earliest practical time.

Sgt.Me Combie, Mr & Mrs Hicks wish to place on public record their gratitude to yourself, Sgt.Appleton and indeed the other West Midlands Officers for the care and consideration you have shown them during your investigations.

Q for Dr. Popper

1. Further to your statement during the opening session we. understand that it is normal practise to do "ethanol blood tests" that reveal any foreign substance in the blood.

a)Could you explain why you chose blood alcohol levels only.

b)Can you give an assurance that this was your descision entirely and that no police pressure was involved.

2)We accept Dr. Poppers statement that it was neccessary to "have a system" in the identification process but in the light of our experience with Victoria's body being removed back to the Ground could he try to ensure that in any future incident a body unequivically identified by a close relative is left in peace at the hospital mortuary.

TELEPHONE:

SHEFFIELD (0742) 768522

TELEX: 547996

FAX: (0742) 523243

P WRIGHT CBE OSt J CBIM

CHIEF CONSTABLE

Dr S L Popper Medico-Legal Centre Watery Street • Sheffield S3 7ET

0 '

I refer to your recent conversation with Superintendent Sleath concerning the release of the deceased persons from the Hillsborough incident to their respective next of kin, following the adjournment of the inquest.

After consultation with Professor Usher, I have no objection to this course of action.

ML

SOUTH YORKSHIRE POLICE

POLICE HEADQUARTERS

SNIG HILL

SHEFFIELD S3 SLY

18 April 1989