Story highlights
- Jurors at inquest find 96 fans who died were unlawfully killed
- Two investigations focus on disaster and its aftermath
- Both are likely to be completed by the end of the year
(CNN)Criminal investigations into the 1989 Hillsborough soccer disaster and its aftermath are set to be completed by the end of the year, with charges against individuals and organizations potentially following.
After more than two years of hearing evidence, jurors at an inquest into the tragedy found that the 96 Liverpool fans who died at an FA Cup semifinal match in Sheffield were unlawfully killed.
The UK's Crown Prosecution Service will look at whether to bring criminal charges once the criminal investigations have been concluded.
The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) is carrying out the biggest investigation in its history into an alleged cover-up in the aftermath of what was Britain's worst sporting tragedy.
A police investigation is focusing on the day of the disaster itself.
Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
Ninety-six Liverpool fans died during the FA Cup semifinal against Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium on April 15, 1989.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
The game was stopped at six minutes past three. Moments before the players were taken off the pitch, fans had begun climbing over fences behind Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobbelaar's goal to escape the crush.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
People used advertising boards as makeshift stretchers to help the victims of the disaster.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
In the immediate aftermath, people from throughout Britain left tributes at Liverpool's Anfield stadium.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
A Liverpool supporter pays his respects outside Anfield in September 2012, weeks before Britain's police watchdog said it would launch the biggest-ever independent inquiry into potential police wrongdoing after a damning report on the disaster.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
Tributes are left at Anfield's Bill Shankly gates in 2012, soon after the Hillsborough Independent Panel had revealed its findings.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
A man walks past "Justice for the 96" graffiti near Anfield soon after the High Court quashed verdicts of accidental death on December 19, 2012. New inquests into the disaster were ordered.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
Floral tributes are left at Anfield on each anniversary of the tragedy.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
A poster protesting about the way in which Liverpool fans were blamed for Hillsborough is displayed outside Anfield in 2012. The club's supporters boycotted, and continue to boycott, "The Sun" newspaper due to its coverage of the deaths. In the aftermath of the Hillsborough Independent Panel report that year, the paper issued an apology for what it said were "false reports."
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
Floral tributes are laid in memory of the victims on the 25th anniversary of Hillsborough, prior to a Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on April 13, 2014.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
A young Liverpool fan stands next to floral tributes laid in memory of the victims on the 25th anniversary.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
The young fan wears a shirt calling for justice for the 96 victims.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
The Liverpool players link arms as they join a silence for the victims in 2014.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
Fans in the Kop stand at Anfield display banners in memory of the Hillsborough victims.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
The Hillsborough Justice Campaign was set up to support those affected by the disaster, including the families of its victims and those who survived.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
Fans, players and officials mark the Hillsborough anniversary before the Premier League match between Liverpool and Newcastle at Anfield in 2015.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
The coroner's court set up to hear the inquests into the 96 Liverpool fans who died in Hillsborough is in Warrington, north-west England.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
Donna Miller, the sister of victim Paul Carlile, arrives on the opening day of the new inquest into the Hillsborough deaths.
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Mary Corrigan, whose son Keith McGrath died in the disaster, arrives at the inquest in Warrington.
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Photos: Hillsborough disaster: The inquest concludes
Coroner Lord Justice Goldring (centre) walks outside the Leppings Lane stand at Hillsborough as jurors examine the scene of the disaster. The cones show the layout of the area outside the ground as it had been in 1989.
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The officer leading the police inquiry, Assistant Commissioner Jon Stoddart, said: "Today is a day for the families. They have fought hard for many years for these new inquests, and today brings an end to this particular part of their journey.
"Now that the inquests have concluded, my sole focus is on completing the criminal investigation, which I expect will be finished by the turn of the year.
"It will then be for the Crown Prosecution Service to consider the evidence and decide whether any individual or organization should face criminal prosecution."
IPCC deputy chairwoman Rachel Cerfontyne said she also anticipated that investigations would be concluded by the turn of the year.
At the end of each investigation, files will be submitted to the CPS if there is sufficient evidence for a potential prosecution.
"Following the inquests' determinations, the CPS team will continue to work closely with Operation Resolve and the IPCC," Sue Hemming, Head of the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division at the organization, said.
"In due course the CPS will formally consider whether any criminal charges should be brought against any individual or corporate body based upon all the available evidence, in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors."
96 soccer fans unlawfully killed, jury finds 01:14
The investigations could lead to a prosecution of David Duckenfield, the officer in charge of crowd safety on the day of the disaster.
To reach their verdict of unlawful killing, the jurors had to be satisfied that Duckenfield, then a chief superintendent, owed a duty of care to those who died, was in breach of that duty and that the breach amounted to gross negligence.
The Police Superintendents' Association of England and Wales told CNN that "there is no comment from Mr Duckenfield, either directly or on his behalf."
In a statement, Chief Superintendent Tim Jackson, the organization's national secretary, said: "The inquests have been a very long and extremely difficult process for everyone involved, and our thoughts and our sympathies are with the families of those who died in this tragedy.
"Even though the inquests have concluded, there are ongoing investigations by the IPCC and Operation Resolve which involve former members of the association, who we are supporting.
"We are unable to make any further comment until these investigations are complete."
Liverpool players remember Hillsborough disaster 04:17
