Jurors at the Hillsborough inquests have been told one of the key issues they have to consider is whether the 96 victims of the 1989 disaster were unlawfully killed.

As the coroner begun summing up the evidence in the case, he said how they died was the "most important, difficult and controversial" question to answer.

Sir John Goldring said there was "no dispute" that each of the fans suffered fatal injuries from a crush in the West Stand of Hillsborough Stadium but jurors would have to consider the surrounding circumstances which may have contributed to the deaths.

Jurors are being asked to decide whether the conduct of match commander David Duckenfield was so bad it amounted to the unlawful killing of 96 fans by gross negligence manslaughter.

Coroner Sir John Goldring told the jury that at the end of the inquests one of the key issues they will have to decide is whether the behaviour of South Yorkshire Police's then Chief Superintendent amounted to a criminal act.

But he warned them that before the top officer on the day can be held responsible for causing, or being one of the causes of the catastrophe, they must be sure of a series of legal questions.

He suggested the jury may look at Mr Duckenfield's professional background, his lack of experience as a commander of a big football match, and his preparation before the game as they make their deliberations.

Four key questions to consider

To find the fans were unlawfully killed and Mr Duckenfield's conduct was responsible, the jury was told they must answer four key questions.

Unless they are sure on all the four questions they should not conclude the fans were unlawfully killed, jurors were told.

The former Court of Appeal judge, acting as Assistant Coroner for South Yorkshire (East) and West Yorkshire (West), is expected to take up to three weeks to sum up the evidence.

The jury is expected to be sent out to reach its determinations on February 22.

The hearings into Britain's worst sporting disaster began on March 31 2014 at a specially built courtroom in Warrington, Cheshire.

The 1991 verdicts from the original inquests were quashed following a damning 2012 report of the Hillsborough Independent Panel, which concluded there was a cover-up that attempted to shift the blame for the tragedy on to its victims.