No legal prices will probably be introduced in opposition to an ice hockey participant arrested on suspicion of manslaughter after the demise of Adam Johnson with the crown prosecution service deciding there was no real looking likelihood of a conviction.
The Nottingham Panthers participant died of a neck harm from a skate after a collision with Sheffield Steelers’ Matt Petgrave in a match in October 2023. The Panthers described the incident on the time as a “freak accident”. CPR was administered on the ice on the Sheffield Enviornment, however Johnson died from his accidents.
Petgrave was placed on police bail, however after an 18-month investigation the CPS stated it had now closed the case. “This was a stunning and deeply upsetting incident,” stated Michael Quinn, the deputy chief crown prosecutor. “The CPS and South Yorkshire Police have labored intently collectively to find out whether or not any legal prices must be introduced in opposition to the opposite ice hockey participant concerned.
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“Following an intensive police investigation and a complete evaluation of all of the proof by the CPS, we’ve got concluded that there’s not a practical prospect of conviction for any legal offence and so there is not going to be a prosecution,” he added.
“Our ideas stay with the household and mates of Adam Johnson.”
Johnson had beforehand performed within the Nationwide Hockey League, the place he made 13 appearances for the Pittsburgh Penguins, earlier than shifting to Canada and Germany after which switching to the UK to hitch the Panthers.
Though Petgrave has by no means been named by South Yorkshire Police, he went public about his arrest in December 2024, in a fundraising enchantment on the web site CrowdJustice.com, the place he has raised greater than £18,000. “I’m searching for assist to cowl a few of my authorized prices while I’m topic to police bail, in addition to extra prices if the matter proceeds to legal court docket,” wrote Petgrave. “Any remaining funds will probably be donated to initiatives that promote security in hockey.”
Ice hockey’s international governing physique, the IIHF, has since made neck guards obligatory for all its affiliated leagues from the 2024-25 season. Nevertheless, they nonetheless usually are not obligatory within the NHL.
After Johnson’s demise the Panthers additionally retired his No 47 jersey – the seventh time they’ve retired a shirt within the membership’s historical past.
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