It's been 28 years since Britain's worst sporting disaster.
Thousands of Liverpool football fans packed into an overcrowded, fenced-in pen at the Hillsborough stadium in northern England to watch an FA Cup semi-final.
Ninety-six people dies after being crushed as more and more people crammed into the enclosure.
Police first blamed drunken fans and hooligans for the disaster, an explanation rejected not only by survivors, but by relatives of the victims and the wider Liverpool community.
Now English prosecutors have finally granted them the outcome they've been seeking, charging six people - including former police chiefs - for the tragedy.
Sue Hemming, from the Crown Prosecution Service, named the most high-profile of those charged.
"There is sufficient evidence to charge former Chief Superintendent David Duckenfield with the manslaughter by gross negligence of 95 men, women and children. Mr Duckenfield was the Match Commander on the day of the disaster."
Barry Devonside left the announcement pumping his fist and giving a thumbs-up.
He survived the stadium crush but lost his 18-year-old son, Christopher.
"I'm absolutely delighted. We've got today everything we could have asked for. The decisions by the CPS in my opinion were correct, well, are correct and we look forward to due process through the court of law."
Trevor Hicks lost his two daughters and says the charges are encouraging to others affected by catastrophic events.
"I mean, there are no winners in this, it doesn't bring anybody back from the disaster but what it does do is it sends a message out of accountability as we keep saying that nobody - but nobody - is above the law, be it the police or anybody else. And so any organisation, and we all know Grenfell Tower and all these other things, watch out because families will come after you if you don't do your jobs properly."
The other suspects include former police chief constable Norman Bettison, who is facing charges for allegedly lying about the culpability of fans and his involvement in the aftermath.
Two other former police chiefs, Donald Denton and Alan Foster, are charged with perverting the course of justice for allegedly changing witness statements.
A lawyer who acted for police, Peter Metcalf, and a safety officer, Graham Mackrell, will also face court.
The head of the Hillsborough family support group, Margaret Aspinall, describes the outcome as a great achievement.
"We've changed the course, hopefully, for the future of the country. You know, don't ever give up hope, that if you carry on fighting as the families have, for all of them years, that things can change and things must change and this must never happen again. No one, no one should have to go what these families have gone through for 28 years to try and get to the truth, to get accountability especially."
British Prime Minister Theresa May paid tribute to the victims' families in parliament.
"I'm sure, as I said, obviously today will be a day of really mixed emotions for them. But I welcome the fact that charging decisions have been taken. I think that is an important step forward."
Prosecutors announced they are unable to lay charges over Tony Bland, the 96th victim, whose injuries left him in a vegetative state until his death four years later.
All six men are to appear in court early August.
Share
