British prosecutors have announced that the man arrested in connection with the tragic death of former Penguins player Adam Johnson will not face criminal charges. The case against Matt Petgrave will not proceed.
The incident occurred on October 28, 2023, during an ice hockey game between the Nottingham Panthers and the Sheffield Steelers. An on-ice collision resulted in Petgrave`s skate making contact with Johnson`s throat, causing a fatal injury. Adam Johnson passed away shortly after the collision. Matt Petgrave was subsequently arrested approximately two weeks later in connection with the death.
Following a comprehensive investigation, during which Matt Petgrave received some crowdfunding support for his legal fees, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) ultimately decided not to pursue criminal charges. Deputy Chief Crown Prosecutor Michael Quinn released a statement explaining the rationale behind this decision.
In his statement, Quinn said: “The CPS and South Yorkshire Police have worked closely together to determine whether any criminal charges should be brought against the other ice hockey player involved.” He further elaborated, “Following a thorough police investigation and a comprehensive review of all the evidence by the CPS, we have concluded that there is not a realistic prospect of conviction for any criminal offense and so there will not be a prosecution. Our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Adam Johnson.”
Adam Johnson was 29 years old at the time of his passing. He had previously played for the Pittsburgh Penguins organization, spending several seasons in both the NHL and AHL leagues. During his 13 appearances in the NHL, he recorded one goal and three assists.
