The Old Bailey
Begins 2 October 2024
Expected to last 3 weeks
The trial of the Metropolitan Police firearms officer charged with the murder of Chris Kaba will begin tomorrow.
Chris Kaba, 24, was fatally shot by Martyn Blake, a firearms officer from the Metropolitan Police on 5 September 2022 in Streatham, London.
The charges were announced by the Crown Prosecution Service on 20 September 2023. Martyn Blake, 40 years old, was named after an anonymity order was lifted at a hearing at The Old Bailey in March this year. The trial opens on 2 October 2024 at 10.30am.
INQUEST, the family and their lawyers are not able to comment at this stage.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information contact Leila Hagmann on [email protected] or 020 7263 1111.
Follow the Justice for Chris Kaba campaign here.
Chris’s family are represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Daniel Machover and Ellie Cornish of Hickman & Rose solicitors, and Matthew Ryder KC and Ifeanyi Odogwu of Matrix Chambers. The INQUEST caseworker is Head of Casework, Anita Sharma.
CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS OF POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN DEATHS
Since 1990 there have been 1,904 deaths recorded by INQUEST in or following police custody or contact. In that time only one officer has been found guilty of manslaughter in 2021, and none for murder.
Dalian Atkinson, 48, died on 15 August 2016, following use of force by officers of West Mercia police. PC Benjamin Monk was found guilty of his manslaughter, and was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2021. More information.
In total there have been 12 murder or manslaughter prosecutions brought relating to on duty police officers, including this prosecution of Martyn Blake and the successful prosecution in the Dalian Atkinson case.
The ten other murder and manslaughter charges did not result in successful prosecutions. Three of these previous cases related to police shootings (this is the fourth), two of which were by Metropolitan Police officers.
Both successful and unsuccessful prosecutions have also been brought following deaths in police contact under Health and Safety legislation.
Other criminal charges against officers, such as perjury and misconduct in public office, have been brought following deaths in custody, but most have led to acquittals or not guilty verdicts.
FATAL POLICE SHOOTINGS
Since 1990, a total of 83 people, have been fatally shot by the police in England and Wales. There have been three other murder or manslaughter prosecutions following police shootings:
- Azelle Rodney was fatally shot by a Metropolitan police officer in 2005 during a hard stop in North London. Following the public inquiry into the death, which found the officer did not have a lawful justification for killing Azelle, the officer was prosecuted with murder. In 2015, that officer was found not guilty by a majority verdict.
- James Ashley was fatally shot in his bedroom by police in 1998 in St Leonards, East Sussex. PC Sherwood was charged following an investigation into the death. Four other Sussex officers were charged with other offences. In 2001, the trials collapsed and no officer was found guilty of any criminal charge.
- David Ewin was fatally shot by police in Barnes, London in February 1995. The Metropolitan Police officer who shot him was found not guilty of both the murder and manslaughter of David in 1997. It was the third time the officer had faced trial, after previous juries failed to reach a verdict.
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Trial Of Met Firearms Officer For Murder Of Chris Kaba To Begin
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The Old Bailey
Begins 2 October 2024
Expected to last 3 weeks
The trial of the Metropolitan Police firearms officer charged with the murder of Chris Kaba will begin tomorrow.
Chris Kaba, 24, was fatally shot by Martyn Blake, a firearms officer from the Metropolitan Police on 5 September 2022 in Streatham, London.
The charges were announced by the Crown Prosecution Service on 20 September 2023. Martyn Blake, 40 years old, was named after an anonymity order was lifted at a hearing at The Old Bailey in March this year. The trial opens on 2 October 2024 at 10.30am.
INQUEST, the family and their lawyers are not able to comment at this stage.
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
For further information contact Leila Hagmann on [email protected] or 020 7263 1111.
Follow the Justice for Chris Kaba campaign here.
Chris’s family are represented by INQUEST Lawyers Group members Daniel Machover and Ellie Cornish of Hickman & Rose solicitors, and Matthew Ryder KC and Ifeanyi Odogwu of Matrix Chambers. The INQUEST caseworker is Head of Casework, Anita Sharma.
CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS OF POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVED IN DEATHS
Since 1990 there have been 1,904 deaths recorded by INQUEST in or following police custody or contact. In that time only one officer has been found guilty of manslaughter in 2021, and none for murder.
Dalian Atkinson, 48, died on 15 August 2016, following use of force by officers of West Mercia police. PC Benjamin Monk was found guilty of his manslaughter, and was sentenced to eight years in prison in 2021. More information.
In total there have been 12 murder or manslaughter prosecutions brought relating to on duty police officers, including this prosecution of Martyn Blake and the successful prosecution in the Dalian Atkinson case.The ten other murder and manslaughter charges did not result in successful prosecutions. Three of these previous cases related to police shootings (this is the fourth), two of which were by Metropolitan Police officers.
Both successful and unsuccessful prosecutions have also been brought following deaths in police contact under Health and Safety legislation.
Other criminal charges against officers, such as perjury and misconduct in public office, have been brought following deaths in custody, but most have led to acquittals or not guilty verdicts.
FATAL POLICE SHOOTINGS
Since 1990, a total of 83 people, have been fatally shot by the police in England and Wales. There have been three other murder or manslaughter prosecutions following police shootings:
PREVIOUS MEDIA RELEASES
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