The man arrested on charges of murder after the death of hockey player Adam Johnson was said that he would not have any accusations, said prosecutors on Tuesday.
Johnson played in Nottingham Panthers and died shortly after his neck was cut into a collision with the defender Sheffield Steelers Matt Petgrave during the match on October 28, 2023.
The man was arrested two weeks later and although the police in South Yorkshire did not identify him in public, Petgrave himself said in a crowdfunding appeal for legal fees that he was the subject of a police investigation.
On Tuesday, the Service of the Crown Prosecutor's Office (CPS) decided that he would not bring criminal charges against a man arrested in accordance with what he described as “a shocking and deeply disturbing incident.”
Watch Former Nhler Adam Johnson killed in a hockey accident in England:
The former NHL player Adam Johnson is dead after cutting the neck through skates in a collision on ice during a match in Sheffield, England. The accident asks if neck guards should be mandatory.
“Police CPS and South Yorkshire cooperated closely together to determine if any penalty charges should be brought against other involved hockeyists,” said the deputy of the Chief Crown Prosecutor Michael Quinn.
“After a thorough police investigation and comprehensive review of all evidence by CPS, we came to the conclusion that there is no realistic perspective of conviction for any crime, and therefore there will be no prosecution. Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson.”
After his arrest, Petgrave was recovered several times when the investigation took place. His representative did not answer immediately at the request for comment on Tuesday.
During the game, Johnson rode ice from the album to the Sheffield defensive zone, when Petgrave collided with another player in Panthers nearby. The left skate Petgrave increased when he began to fall and the blade hit Johnson's neck.
A from Hibbing in Minnesota, he was recognized as deceased in a nearby hospital. The death of a 29-year-old former player Pittsburgh Penguins caused a debate in all sporting on improving the safety of players.
Petgrave, a 33-year-old Canadian, had the support of some members of the Johnson team. Victor Björkung told the Swedish newspaper there, “It is not a chance that it is intentional.” Björking played a pass to Johnson and said he was traumatized by what he saw. As a result, he left the team.
Watch A man arrested after cutting out the hockey neck during the match:
Police in England arrested the man on charges of murder after the death of the hockey player Adam Johnson, whose neck was cut out of the skate blade during the match in October.
Johnson was in his first season in Nottingham-one of the “import” players in the elite ice hockey league-driving in Germany and a handful of penguins in Germany and the season 2018-19 and 2019.
Johnson lived with his fiancée Ryan Wolfe and studied in Loughborough Business School.
The English Ice Hockey Association, which rules the sport below the elite league, reacted to Johnson's death, demanding from all players in England to wear guards around his neck from the beginning of 2024.