8 March 2024

The Metropolitan Police Officer charged with the murder of Chris Kaba has been named as Martyn Blake, 40 years old, after an anonymity order was lifted at a hearing at The Old Bailey today.

Chris Kaba, 24, was fatally shot by a firearms officer from the Metropolitan Police over one year ago on 5 September 2022 in Streatham, London. He was an unarmed Black man.

No on-duty police officer has ever been found guilty of murder or manslaughter in relation to a police shooting, despite critical evidence arising from inquests, inquiries, and investigations. 

This is the twelfth murder and/or manslaughter charge to have been brought against an on-duty police officer involved in a death since 1990, and the fourth relating to a police shooting. 

Only one of these prosecutions has resulted in an officer being found guilty of manslaughter, following the death of Dalian Atkinson. 

Deborah Coles, Director of INQUEST, said: “Police cannot and should not be above the law. Accountability for police officers and forces involved in death, even where evidence of criminality and wrongdoing is identified, is extremely rare. 

In any other murder trial, the accused would be publicly named. This case is no different. We welcome today’s decision.”

INQUEST and the family are not able to comment any further at this stage.

ENDS 

NOTES TO EDITORS

Contact Lucy McKay 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 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 1,870 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, reduced from murder, 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 NX121 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 82 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. 

PREVIOUS MEDIA RELEASES

·         CHRIS KABA: MET POLICE SHOOTER CHARGED WITH MURDER 20 September 2023 

·         CHRIS KABA: ONE YEAR ON, FAMILY DEMAND A DECISION ON CHARGES 5 September 2023

·         CHRIS KABA: FAMILY RESPOND TO POLICE WATCHDOG DECISION TO REFER HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION TO CROWN PROSECUTIONS SERVICE 30 March 2023

·         CHRIS KABA: FAMILY CALL FOR ACTION SIX MONTHS ON FROM SHOOTING 3 March 2023

·         CHRIS KABA: FAMILY CALL FOR ANSWERS AS INQUEST OPENS 4 October 2022 

·         CHRIS KABA: LATEST FAMILY STATEMENT 22 September 2022 

·         STREATHAM POLICE SHOOTING: FAMILY OF CHRIS KABA DEMAND CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION 7 September 2022