Officer appears in court charged with murder of Chris Kaba
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) firearms officer charged with the murder of Chris Kaba in South London last year has been granted bail.
The officer had been remanded into custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning (September 21), ahead of an appearance at the Old Bailey in the afternoon.
Mr Kaba, 24, died on September 5, 2022, after he was fatally shot in Streatham Hill following a pursuit by specialist firearms officers.
The court granted an interim anonymity order following an application by the officer’s legal representatives so they can be identified only as NX121 at this stage.
The officer was released on bail and will appear at the Old Bailey on December 1 for a pre-trial preparation hearing.
A provisional trial date has been set for September 2024.
The MPS said the officer remains suspended from duty and misconduct matters will be considered at the conclusion of the criminal proceedings.
The Crown Prosecution Service said the decision to authorise a charge of murder against the officer followed a referral from the Independent Office for Police Conduct.
The Metropolitan Police Federation said the charging decision will leave serving MPS colleagues “concerned as they go about their incredibly difficult and dangerous work”.
“The officer in question retains our full support as we now go through the legal process,” it added.