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Met police officer who shot Chris Kaba acquitted of murder Met police officer who shot Chris Kaba acquitted of murder
(31 minutes later)
Martyn Blake shot Kaba, who was unarmed, in 2022, saying he feared Kaba would use car to kill officersMartyn Blake shot Kaba, who was unarmed, in 2022, saying he feared Kaba would use car to kill officers
A Metropolitan police firearms officer who shot an unarmed suspect in the head has been acquitted of murder.A Metropolitan police firearms officer who shot an unarmed suspect in the head has been acquitted of murder.
Martyn Blake shot Chris Kaba in September 2022 on a residential street in Streatham, south London. Sergeant Martyn Blake shot Chris Kaba in September 2022 after stopping him on a residential street in Streatham, south London. Kaba, 24, was being followed while driving an Audi that police believed was linked to a firearms incident the previous evening.
Kaba, 24, was driving an Audi that police believed was linked to a firearms incident the previous evening, which they followed, then forced to stop. The unanimous not guilty verdict, which took just three hours to reach, fuelled police anger that he was ever put on trial.
The not guilty verdict will fuel anger that Blake was put on trial, a decision that infuriated his fellow Met firearms officers as well as the force’s commissioner, Mark Rowley. The decision to charge Blake, who had never fired a shot on duty before, had already infuriated his fellow firearms officers as well as the force’s commissioner, Mark Rowley.
The jury took two hours and 59 minutes to reach its verdict. A visibly relieved Blake exhaled as the verdict was delivered. The commissioner branded the system as “broken” as his officer walked free from the Old Bailey on Monday, with police chiefs lobbying ministers to make it harder for such a trial to happen again.
Kaba’s relatives were feet away. His father, Prosper, had to be helped out of the courtroom after verdict; another relative rocked back and forth. Police believe they have won a “policy package” from government, the Guardian understands, as they press for reform which they claim punishes them for doing their job.
Blake, 40, was guarded by police colleagues as he left court. The police watchdog will consider whether he should still face disciplinary action for gross misconduct, and an inquest looms. Kaba’s family said they were “devastated” by the verdict in the face of “unimaginable grief”, with his supporters saying it gave police “impunity” to kill.
The Guardian understands that police chiefs have pressed ministers for greater protection from prosecution for firearms officers, which the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, is considering. An announcement may come within days. His father, Prosper, had to be helped out of the courtroom after the verdict; another relative rocked back and forth.
Scotland Yard remain on heightened alert in case of trouble and are closely monitoring community tensions. A visibly relieved Blake, 40, exhaled as the decision was read out, and hours later the Met said his suspension was lifted.
After the verdict, Rowley said the system for holding police to account was “broken”. The commissioner said: “Sgt Blake made a split-second decision on what he believed was necessary to protect his colleagues and to protect London. The jury decided that was an honestly held belief and the force used was reasonable. He was flanked by police colleagues as he left the courtroom. The police watchdog will consider whether he should still face disciplinary action for gross misconduct, and an inquest looms.
“Any fatal use of force understandably prompts huge concern among communities, particularly in Black communities where trust in policing is low. There remains much for us to do to strengthen confidence in our service, and we know incidents like this place further strain on already challenged relationships. Scotland Yard remain on heightened alert in case of trouble and are closely monitoring community tensions. Dozens of people gathered near the Old Bailey on Monday evening.
A banner read: “We Keep Each Other Safe”, with other supporters holding placards saying “Justice for Chris Kaba”. Supporters chanted: “Say his name: Chris Kaba” and “no justice, no peace”.
After the verdict, Rowley who is battling to recruit and retain enough officers for his embattled force, said: “Sgt Blake made a split-second decision on what he believed was necessary to protect his colleagues and to protect London. The jury decided that was an honestly held belief and the force used was reasonable.
“Any fatal use of force understandably prompts huge concern among communities, particularly in Black communities where trust in policing is low … We know incidents like this place further strain on already challenged relationships.
“No police officer is above the law, but we have been clear the system holding police to account is broken. I worry about the lack of support officers face for doing their best, but most of all I worry for the public. The more we crush the spirit of good officers, the less they can fight crime. That risks London becoming less safe.”“No police officer is above the law, but we have been clear the system holding police to account is broken. I worry about the lack of support officers face for doing their best, but most of all I worry for the public. The more we crush the spirit of good officers, the less they can fight crime. That risks London becoming less safe.”
Blake’s suspension would be immediately lifted, Rowley said. Kaba’s family said: “The not guilty verdict leaves us with the deep pain of injustice adding to the unbearable sorrow we have felt since Chris was killed. No family should endure the unimaginable grief we have faced. Chris was stolen from us, and this decision shows his life – and many others like him – does not matter to the system. Our son deserved better.
Kaba’s family issued a statement saying they were “devastated”. They said: “The not guilty verdict leaves us with the deep pain of injustice adding to the unbearable sorrow we have felt since Chris was killed. No family should endure the unimaginable grief we have faced. Chris was stolen from us, and this decision shows his life – and many others like him – does not matter to the system. Our son deserved better. “The acquittal of Martyn Blake isn’t just a failure for our family, but for all those affected by police violence. Despite this verdict, we won’t be silenced. We will continue fighting for Chris, for justice, and for real change. Chris’s life mattered, and nothing can take that away from us.”
“The acquittal of Martyn Blake isn’t just a failure for our family, but for all those affected by police violence. Despite this verdict, we won’t be silenced. We are deeply grateful to everyone who stood by us and fought for justice. We will continue fighting for Chris, for justice, and for real change. Chris’ life mattered, and nothing can take that away from us.” Police stopped the Audi not knowing who the driver was, only that it was potentially linked to a shooting the night before.
The Audi Kaba had been driving was forced to stop and was then surrounded by armed officers who burst out from three police cars and tried to pull the suspect out of his vehicle. The vehicle Kaba had been driving was forced to stop and was then surrounded by armed officers, who burst out from three police cars and tried to pull the suspect out.
Blake, who was in a police car that blocked the Audi from the front, said he opened fire fearing Kaba would pull an officer under its wheels or run them over trying to escape. Blake, who was in a police car that blocked the Audi from the front, said he opened fire fearing Kaba would pull an officer under its wheels or run them over, as their suspect tried to escape “at any cost” after being blocked in.
He said the car was being used as a weapon and he had fired in self-defence and also to protect his colleagues, with his primary aim being to “incapacitate” the driver, who was hunched low over the steering wheel.He said the car was being used as a weapon and he had fired in self-defence and also to protect his colleagues, with his primary aim being to “incapacitate” the driver, who was hunched low over the steering wheel.
The prosecution said that the Audi driven by Kaba was blocked within seconds and could not have escaped nor run over officers. The prosecution said that the Audi was blocked within seconds and could not have escaped nor run over officers at the point Blake shot. The crown accepted that Kaba made “concerted” efforts to escape, but his Audi’s top speed during the standoff was 12 miles an hour.
The crown accepted that Kaba made “concerted” efforts to escape police, but his Audi’s top speed during the standoff was 12 miles an hour. Scores of Met armed officers walked out when Blake was charged. The force feared a guilty conviction could have triggered a fresh and potentially bigger rebellion, and held discussions with army chiefs about soldiers coming on to London’s streets.
A fellow armed officer said he had also been about to open fire. Officers told of hearing tyre screeches and the Audi’s engine revving. Temi Mwale and Kayza Rose, of the Justice for Chris Kaba Campaign, said: “This outcome reinforces the harsh reality that police can kill without consequence. No one can be safe while the police can kill with impunity.”
Police stopped the Audi not knowing who the driver was, only that it was linked to a shooting the night before. Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: “The British tradition of policing by consent relies on mutual bonds of trust between the public and the police. It is important both that the police have the confidence of communities they serve and that officers have the support and confidence they need to do the difficult job of keeping us safe. The government is committed to working with policing to strengthen confidence for the future.”
The charging of Blake caused outrage among armed Met officers. They were furious after he was suspended from duty; after he was charged with murder, scores refused to carry weapons.
The Met feared a guilty conviction could have triggered a fresh and potentially bigger rebellion among their firearms officers.
The criminal investigation was carried out by the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).The criminal investigation was carried out by the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
Frank Ferguson, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime and counter-terrorism division, said: “We recognise that firearms officers operate under enormous pressure, but it is our responsibility to put cases before a jury that meet our test for prosecution, and we are satisfied that test was met in this case.Frank Ferguson, the head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s special crime and counter-terrorism division, said: “We recognise that firearms officers operate under enormous pressure, but it is our responsibility to put cases before a jury that meet our test for prosecution, and we are satisfied that test was met in this case.
“It is therefore right that the case was put before the jury for them to scrutinise and to decide.”“It is therefore right that the case was put before the jury for them to scrutinise and to decide.”