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The tragic death of hockey star Adam Johnson during a game in England has raised questions over whether the other player involved could face criminal charges.
Johnson, 29, a former NHL forward for the Pittsburgh Penguins, succumbed to injuries after a "freak" incident in which his neck was cut by another player's skate during a game with his team, Nottingham Panthers, against the Sheffield Steelers on Saturday.
He fell to the ice following a collision with opposition player Matt Petgrave in the 35th minute of the game in front of 8,000 spectators.
"The Nottingham Panthers are truly devastated to announce that Adam Johnson has tragically passed away following a freak accident at the game in Sheffield last night," the team announced in a statement.
"The Panthers would like to thank everyone who rushed to support Adam last night in the most testing of circumstances. Adam, our number 47, was not only an outstanding ice hockey player, but also a great teammate and an incredible person with his whole life ahead of him."
The incident has raised questions as to what comes next for the sport, in particular Petgrave, and whether he could face a charge of manslaughter.
One legal expert says that is highly unlikely.
"From what I have read on the news, it seems very unlikely the CPS (Crown Prosecution Service) would prosecute: for manslaughter you need either gross negligence - a really large departure from normal standards of care such as to justify criminal liability; or an unlawful and dangerous act - the latter only likely if for example there had be a pretty flagrant breach of the sport's rules," Nicola Lacey, professor of law, gender and social policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), told Newsweek.
"If it was really a 'freak accident,' neither of those tests would be met; and the CPS can only prosecute where there is a realistic chance of conviction," she said.
Lacey's colleague at the LSE, Jeremy Horder, hasn't seen the incident, but explained the parameters needed to go ahead with a charge for manslaughter.
"Essentially, the position is that injuries caused in the course of an ordinary lawful sporting contest are within the bounds of 'ordinary contact' and hence do not give rise to liability, even when, for example, they contravene a rule of the game by amounting to a foul or violent conduct," Horder told Newsweek.
"However, very extreme recklessness, for example wearing deliberately extra sharpened boots, or something, or a deliberately inflicted injury of a serious kind might fall outside this exception, and fall to be dealt with like any other assault leading to a death. I am not aware that anything of this nature was involved in this case."
Newsweek contacted Petgrave by email through the Sheffield Steelers for comment.
South Yorkshire Police said it was continuing its investigation into the incident after being "called at 8.25pm on Saturday 28 October to reports that a player had been seriously injured during a Sheffield Steelers versus Nottingham Panthers game at the Utilita Arena in Sheffield."
"Officers attended the scene alongside other emergency services and one man, aged in his 20s, was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Sadly, he was later pronounced deceased at hospital," the police said in a statement to Newsweek.
"Our officers remain at the scene carrying out enquiries and our investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident remain ongoing.
"We would encourage the public to avoid speculation regarding the incident while we continue our enquiries."
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Shannon Power is a Greek-Australian reporter, but now calls London home. They have worked as across three continents in print, ... Read more