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Met Officer Martyn Blake Cleared of Murder in Shooting of Unarmed Chris Kaba in South London

Oct 21, 2024, 04:10 PM

Metropolitan Police Firearms Officer Martyn Blake, previously known as NX121, has been found not guilty of the murder of Chris Kaba, a 24-year-old unarmed man who was fatally shot in Streatham, south-east London, on September 5, 2022. A jury at the Old Bailey unanimously cleared Blake after deliberating for around four hours. The incident occurred during a police stop, where Blake fired a single shot at close range through the windscreen of Kaba's car, believing that his own life and that of his colleagues were in danger. The vehicle Kaba was driving was linked to a prior shooting, and he attempted to ram his way out of a police roadblock. The Metropolitan Police released bodycam footage showing the moment of the shooting. The acquittal has sparked protests outside the Old Bailey and calls for accountability. Kaba's family expressed devastation at the verdict and vowed to 'continue fighting for justice and change'. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley stated that Blake made a 'split-second decision' and that 'no officer is above the law'.