Firearms officer's account of fatal shooting 'false' and 'exaggerated', jury is told

A Metropolitan Police firearms officer's account of the moment he shot Chris Kaba during a police stop was "false" in some parts and "exaggerated" in others, a court has heard.

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN

Operational firearms commander Martyn Blake claimed he feared for his life and his fellow officer’s safety after Mr Kaba rammed a police car and reversed into one behind during a police stop.

In his initial account of the fatal shooting, Mr Blake said the “driver would not stop his attempt to escape at any cost” and he feared for the safety of firearms officers, who had surrounded the car on foot. He said the driver “drove his vehicle at great speed towards myself and E156 [another officer] to escape”. However, prosecutor Tom Little KC told the jury the Audi Q8 was being driven at speeds of 8mph and a maximum of 12mph when the driver struck the vehicles which were boxing him in.

He added: “It will be a matter for you to consider but in a number of material respects that account is false, we say, in parts and exaggerated in other parts.” Mr Blake also alleged Mr Kaba was revving the engine after the Audi had reversed into a police car behind him, the court heard. “That is simply not correct,” Mr Little said.