NEWS STORY : Police Marksman Martyn Blake Cleared of Wrong-Doing

STORY

In a case that has sparked intense debate about police use of force, Metropolitan Police firearms officer Martyn Blake has been found not guilty of murder in the death of Chris Kaba. Mr. Kaba, an unarmed 24-year-old, was fatally shot through the windscreen of his car in Streatham Hill, South London, in September 2022.

The jury at the Old Bailey reached their verdict after three hours of deliberation, acquitting Mr. Blake, who fired the single fatal shot that ended Mr. Kaba’s life. The officer had been charged with murder following an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The court heard how the Audi Mr. Kaba was driving had been linked to a firearms incident, although no gun was found in the vehicle. Mr. Blake testified that he believed Mr. Kaba was reaching for a weapon.

The verdict has elicited strong reactions. Mr. Kaba’s family expressed profound disappointment and vowed to continue their fight for justice, while the Metropolitan Police emphasised respect for the judicial process and acknowledged the complexities of armed policing.