MPS officer acquitted of murder following fatal shooting of Chris Kaba

Sergeant Martyn Blake, 40, was acquitted unanimously following a trial which ended on Monday (October 21).

Mr Kaba, 24, died after he was fatally shot in Streatham Hill, South London, following a pursuit by specialist MPS firearms officers.

Mr Kaba was driving an Audi that was believed to be linked to a firearms incident the previous day.

MPS Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “The jury system is the cornerstone of British justice and today, after two weeks of evidence, 12 men and women have cleared Sgt Martyn Blake of murder.

“Over the past two years Sgt Blake has paid a huge personal and professional sacrifice. This has been an incredibly difficult time for him and his family and he has acted with professionalism and dignity throughout.

“This case has had an enormous impact on many. Chris Kaba’s family and friends continue to grieve the loss of a loved one and today will be tremendously difficult for them.

“Today’s verdict is significant. No firearms officer sets out on duty intent on ending a life. Their sole purpose is the complete opposite – the protection and preservation of life.

“Throughout the trial the jury heard significant detail about the scenes facing Sgt Blake that night. They were told the car Mr Kaba was driving had been linked to a reported shooting the night before, the suspects were still at large, and no gun had been recovered.

“Armed officers bravely intervened not knowing the risks they were about to face. The court heard that Mr Kaba tried to evade police, ramming his vehicle into others around him.

“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. 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.

“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.”

Sir Mark added: “Our armed officers respond to more than 4,000 incidents each year, but there are only one or two incidents where shots are fired by police. It is undeniable that they are the most professional, most accountable and most cautious in their use of lethal force in the world.

“Their operations have prevented countless acts of violence across our city. Last year alone they removed more than 400 guns from our streets.

“I remain humbled and deeply proud of officers who continue to protect London despite all the risks they face. They continue to have my full and my unwavering support.”

The MPS said Sgt Blake was “suspended throughout this period” but his suspension will now be immediately lifted.

The Metropolitan Police Federation said it “has listened carefully to the Commissioner’s statement following the acquittal of our colleague Sgt Martyn Blake for murder”, adding: “We echo and endorse everything that the Commissioner has said. We thank him for his support.”

In a statement following the acquittal of Sgt Blake, Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) director Amanda Rowe said: “Firstly, we want to acknowledge Chris Kaba’s family and friends today as they continue to grieve his death more than two years on. Our thoughts and sympathies remain with them and everyone else who has been affected.

“The past few weeks must have been incredibly difficult and distressing for Chris’s family who have sat through the trial, listened to all the evidence and witnessed his final moments played out in court.

“We also recognise the impact that this trial has had on the officer involved, as well as his firearms colleagues and the wider policing community.

“Today a jury, having considered all the evidence, has acquitted Police Sergeant Martyn Blake of murder.

“We appreciate this trial will have been of significant public interest, and particularly so within our black communities.”

She added: “The IOPC’s role is 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 Sgt Blake, and then to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), 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.

“Following the CPS decision to charge Martyn Blake with murder, the matter has now been heard in open court and the officer has accounted for his actions before a jury.

“Ultimately it is that jury’s decision, having carefully considered all the evidence, to determine guilt or innocence and we respect that decision and thank them for their consideration.

“Armed policing plays a crucial part in protecting our communities and keeping the public safe from danger. Firearms officers can, and do, find themselves in extremely dangerous and volatile situations where they are forced to make difficult and quick decisions under intense pressure.

“It’s important to recognise that fatal police shootings are rare, particularly in relation to the volume of incidents firearms officers are called to attend. And it is rarer still that they result in criminal or misconduct proceedings for the officer who fired the fatal shot.

“Over the past ten years the IOPC – or our predecessor the IPCC – has undertaken 26 investigations into fatal police shootings. In one other case we referred a file of evidence to the CPS to consider a criminal charge for the officer who fired the shot.”

Following the Old Bailey jury’s not guilty verdict, the chair of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners Emily Spurrell said: “The acquittal of Metropolitan Police firearms officer Martyn Blake for the murder of Chris Kaba ends a long and painful experience for all concerned. I wish to extend my sympathies to Chris Kaba’s family who will find today’s verdict difficult to come to terms with.

“Police firearms discharges are very rare, but the consequences can be catastrophic. It is, of course, right that such incidents are investigated and, if the evidence is there, prosecuted in the criminal courts.

“PCCs have a legal duty to make sure the highest standards are in place regarding the safety and security of firearms, both for the public and those who carry them. We, along with Government and the wider policing sector, need to reflect on the wider implications.”