Originally Posted by
dervish
Is there a time limit on these things? If there was a civil case is he allowed to produce the evidence that wasn't permitted in the criminal case or inquest?
Yes and yes.
Normally six years (five if it had happened in Scotland)!
Different rules apply and a civil case is decided on the balance of probabilities. But, just because a tragedy happened and people died doesn't automatically mean that somebody must be liable.
In effect any case would be dealt with by the pilot's and the show organiser's insurance companies. They would weigh the cost of reaching a settlement against the costs and risks of defending the case. It would have little if anything to do with "guilt" but sadly some other posters' seem unable to understand that.
In a way it is a bigger version of a roof tile coming off your house and killing a passer by. If you had unreasonably neglected your roof and it was obvious to a average person that it was dangerous you could be liable and your insurance company would defend or settle the matter more or less as they see fit. If on the other hand you had taken reasonable care of your property and it was just "one of those unfortunate things" it is unlikely there would be any liability.