Louis de Zoysa, 25, allegedly smuggled a gun into Croydon police station and killed Sgt Matt Ratana, 54, who died from a gunshot wound to the chest. De Zoysa received a gunshot wound to the left side of his face during the incident in September 2020, and has been left with brain damage.
The prosecutor, Duncan Penny KC, said De Zoysa, who denies murder, pointed his gun at Ratana and shot him "at very close range", causing a fatal injury to the left lung and heart of the officer.
A further three shots were fired during the struggle with police officers that followed, Penny said, with one shot hitting Ratana in the leg and the final shot injuring De Zoysa leaving him with a "severe and lifethreatening injury".
Imran Khan KC, for the defence, said De Zoysa had been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at the age of 13 and fired the gun because he was suffering from an "autistic meltdown".
This story is from the June 08, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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This story is from the June 08, 2023 edition of The Guardian.
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