During a trial at the Old Bailey, Metropolitan Police firearms officer Martyn Blake spoke about his emotions during the events leading up to the death of Chris Kaba, stating that he was “filled with dread” and believed one of his colleagues could have died. Blake is accused of murdering the unarmed Kaba, who was 24 years old, through a car windscreen. He denies the charge and said he had a “duty to protect” his fellow officers at the time of the stop in Streatham, South London, in September 2022.
The family of Chris Kaba was present in the courtroom to hear the evidence of the police marksman. Defence barrister Patrick Gibbs KC asked Blake why he pulled the trigger, and he responded by stating that he believed there was an imminent threat to life. “I thought one or more of my colleagues was about to die,” he said. Blake continued, “If I hadn’t acted, I thought one of my colleagues would be dead. I felt I had a duty to protect them at the time.” When asked about his intentions, Blake responded with a clear “No” and acknowledged that taking a shot into the central body mass at that range could be fatal.
Blake joined the Metropolitan Police in 2008 and became a firearms officer in 2015. He said he was aware that it was possible that one day he may have to shoot someone as a trained firearms officer. “It struck me as a challenging role with a challenging course. It was a very good course and a thoroughly good job. The best job in Metropolitan Police, working with the best colleagues,” he noted. The court learned that police had been following Kaba because the Audi he was driving had been connected to a shooting in Brixton the night before.
The prosecution claims that it was not necessary or reasonably justified for Blake to fire the shot that killed Kaba, who was shot in the forehead. The trial continues, and the jury must conclude whether Blake is guilty
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