Family and friends of those who died in the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium disaster, gather outside the Warrington Magistrate's Court, in Warrington, north west England on August 9, 2017. Five men charged over the 1989 Hillsborough football stadium disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died, were to appear in court for the first time on August 9, 2017. Pic/AFP

Five men charged over the Hillsborough football stadium disaster, in which 96 Liverpool fans died, appeared in court for the first time yesterday, 28 years on from the tragedy. The five, who include three former police officers, appeared at Warrington Magistrates' Court in northwest England. The defendants walked past relatives of the victims as they entered the court, around 15 miles (25 kilometres) from Liverpool. Following a 25-minute hearing dealing with largely administrative matters, the case was passed up to Preston Crown Court in northwest England.