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A UK police marksman was acquitted of murder on Monday in connection with the shooting of a black man two years ago during a police operation to stop the car he was driving in south London. The outcome has reignited conversations about race, policing, and accountability within the justice system.
In a trial concerning the death of Chris Kaba, 24, Martyn Blake, 40, faced accusations of murder after Kaba was shot in the head in the Streatham area of London in September 2022. The incident, which resulted in a single gunshot fatality, has intensified scrutiny on police tactics in similar encounters.
The police officer found himself briefly overcome with emotion as the jury returned a not guilty verdict after roughly three hours of deliberation at the Old Bailey court in central London. This response highlighted the profound impact of the trial on the officer’s life and the ongoing discussions about police conduct in the community.
Kaba’s family remained seated in stony silence as the verdict was read, providing no immediate reaction. Later, they expressed their feelings of “devastation” and vowed to persist in their quest for “justice,” a testament to their determination to advocate for accountability in the face of tragedy.
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His death sparked protests from family and friends, who rallied for justice with the support of Inquest, an organization that campaigns against state-related deaths, including those involving police actions. The coalition sought to raise awareness about the need for accountability in cases of police violence.
“We know that Chris’ death is not an isolated case but part of systemic racism and stereotyping that equates black men with dangerousness,” said Inquest director Deborah Coles.
“For decades, black men have disproportionately been killed by the police.”
The decision to charge Blake saw dozens of his firearms colleagues in the Metropolitan Police stop work in protest and the army put on standby to replace them.
Officers would be put off volunteering for firearms training if they feared being embroiled in lengthy court cases when a fatal shooting took place, they argued.
Reacting to the verdict, Met Police Commissioner Mark Rowley said Blake had paid “a huge personal and professional sacrifice” since the shooting.
He said the officer had made “a split second decision on what he believed was necessary to protect his colleagues and to protect London”.
No officer was above the law, he said, but the system for holding police to account was “broken”.
