ACQUITTED

Fury and relief after cop who shot dead Chris Kaba cleared of murder

- TOM PETTIFOR

POLICE marksman Martyn Blake was overcome with emotion after a jury yesterday found him not guilty of murdering Chris Kaba.

But his acquittal sparked fury among the dead man's family, who warned it shows armed officers can "kill without consequence".

And last night a crowd gathered outside the court to protest against the verdict, holding placards bearing the words "Justice for Chris Kaba".

A police chief warned that taking officers to court over killings in the line of duty risks undermining their work and threatens public safety.

Mr Blake was cleared after jurors agreed he had acted in self-defence and fear for his colleagues when he shot Mr Kaba, 24, in the head in 2022, despite the target being unarmed.

After yesterday's verdict, dramatic footage of the shooting was released showing Mr Kaba trying to ram his way past six patrol cars that had penned in his Audi Q8, which had links to a shooting outside a school.

Officers can be heard shouting "armed police" and "get out of the f***ing car". Mr Kaba is seen raising his left arm above his head.

He crouches forward with his right hand still on the steering wheel.

Seconds after his vehicle tried to ram the police cars, sergeant Mr Blake rushed out of his vehicle and fired a single fatal shot at the victim.

Temi Mwale and Kayza Rose, of the Justice for Chris Kaba campaign, said the acquittal left his family, including mum Helen Lumuanganu and dad Prosper Kaba, "devastated" and suffering "the deep pain of injustice".