Kaba shot rival in nightclub days before police shooting

Judge rules details of Chris Kaba’s past can now be revealed

- AMY-CLARE MARTIN

Police shooting victim Chris Kaba was a “core member” of one of London’s most dangerous gangs and would have stood trial for attempted murder over a nightclub shooting if he had not been killed, it can be now reported.

Metropolitan Police marksman Martyn Blake was on Monday acquitted of murdering the 24-year-old who tried to ram his way out of a police stop in Streatham, southwest London, on 5 September 2022. It can now be revealed that Kaba shot a man twice in the legs in an attack linked to gang rivalry just six days earlier.

CCTV shown to a jury shows Kaba discharging the gun on a packed dancefloor at the Oval Space nightclub in Hackney, east London, on 30 August, wounding Brandon Malutshi in the thigh. He then pursued the victim outside the venue, firing at a wounded Malutshi, injuring him yet again in the other leg. Malutshi was airlifted to hospital and treated for the bullet injuries, but later discharged himself.

Kaba’s friends Shemiah Bell and Marcus Pottinger, both 31, were found guilty of wounding with intent over their role in the nightclub shooting in a trial at the Old Bailey earlier this year. The two defendants and 29-year-old Connel Bamgboye were also found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Three other defendants were cleared of all the charges against them.