Metropolitan Police Officer Acquitted of Murder in Shooting of Chris Kaba

Martyn Blake, 40, the Metropolitan Police firearms officer who shot Chris Kaba, 24, in September 2022, has been acquitted of his murder charge.

After three hours of deliberation on Monday, the jury delivered the verdict at the Old Bailey. Blake, standing in the dock, showed a brief moment of emotion upon being cleared.

In a statement released by campaign group Inquest, Kaba’s family expressed devastation over the not guilty verdict, stating that it “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,” they said.

Getaway Car in a Shooting

Blake faced trial after shooting Kaba through the front windscreen of an Audi Q8 in Streatham, southeast London, on Sept. 5, 2022.

The vehicle, which had been used as a getaway car in a shooting the previous night, was surrounded by police cars in Kirkstall Gardens after an officer recognized the license plate.

The jury heard that Kaba had attempted to ram his way out by driving backward and forward. Blake believed that one of his fellow officers was in imminent danger of being killed, prompting him to open fire to stop the vehicle.

Prosecutors claimed that Blake had underestimated the risk, exaggerated the threat to his colleagues, and aimed directly at Kaba’s head, allegations which Blake denied.

A firearms officer referred to as DS87 mentioned that he would have taken the shot if Blake hadn’t, while another officer, E156, stated that he was moments away from doing the same.

The jury also heard from NX109, another firearms officer who had his glove caught in the Audi’s door handle but managed to free himself as the car moved forward, fearing he would be dragged between the vehicle and a nearby Tesla.

No ‘RoboCop’

Patrick Gibbs, KC, Blake’s defense barrister, emphasized that the officer was not a “RoboCop” capable of instantaneous reactions like a computer.

Gibbs told the jury, “He is not a robot, he is a human being with a human brain who acted to the best of his ability.”

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), the police watchdog, defended its decision to refer the shooting to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

IOPC Director Amanda Rowe stated that the watchdog’s role was to “independently investigate the circumstances surrounding a fatal police shooting, including the decision to use lethal force. Under the law, firearms officers can use lethal force, however it must be reasonable in the circumstances the officer honestly believed them to be.”

“The decisions to criminally investigate Sergeant Blake, and then to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service, followed careful consideration of a significant amount of evidence gathered during our independent investigation and by applying the relevant legal tests which govern our work,” Rowe said.

The CPS also defended its decision to prosecute Blake, affirming that it was “right that the case was put before the jury for them to scrutinize and decide.”

The IOPC is now considering whether Blake should face a disciplinary hearing.

System ‘Broken’

In response to the verdict, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley acknowledged that Blake had made a “huge personal and professional sacrifice” since the shooting two years ago.

Rowley commended Blake for his “split second decision on what he believed was necessary to protect his colleagues and London.”

The Met Police commissioner criticized the system in place for holding officers accountable when they use lethal force.

Rowley expressed concerns that while no officer is above the law, “We have been clear that the system holding police to account is broken.”

The senior officer continued: “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, risking London becoming less safe.”

PA Media contributed to this report.