Police Officer Who Killed Chris Kaba Acquitted of Murder

Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

A body camera video capturing the fast-paced and chaotic events on a September evening in Streatham two years ago was replayed close to a hundred times during the recent trial of police officer Martyn Blake. The footage, which included multiple police cars, officers in pursuit, and the suspect’s vehicle jerking forwards and backwards, ended with the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Chris Kaba. Blake, the officer who fired the shot, was found not guilty of murder last week. 

Kaba’s family, activists, and members of the Black community have long argued that his death was a result of racially motivated police violence, emphasizing that Kaba was unarmed. A family statement following the verdict read, "The not-guilty verdict leaves us with a deep pain of injustice ... This decision shows his life —and [of] many others like him— doesn't matter to the system". 

Officer Blake defended his actions in court, stating that the shooting was necessary to stop the car and protect his colleagues. A fellow firearm officer testified that he would have taken a shot if Mr Blake had not. 

After Blake was charged with murder, more than 100 officers surrendered their firearm permits. Concerns arose that a guilty verdict could lead to more officers doing the same, potentially affecting the Met’s operational capability. The army was reportedly put on standby to support armed responses if needed, according to a Home Office source.

Journalist Danny Shaw commented on the Newscast podcast that the Crown Prosecution Service had cautioned against a “microanalysis” of the footage. Shaw noted that the jury had “the benefit of huge amounts of hindsight” by watching the footage frame-by-frame, whereas Martin Blake "had to make a decision within seconds".

Two days after the verdict, the Home Secretary announced plans to grant anonymity to firearms officers facing trial over a shooting unless they are convicted.