Met cop who shot Chris Kaba faces misconduct hearing

The Met cop who was cleared of murder after shooting Chris Kaba will face a gross misconduct hearing, the police watchdog has said.

Sgt Martyn Blake, 41, an officer in the specialist firearms unit MO19, shot Mr Kaba through the windscreen of an Audi Q8 in Kirkstall Gardens, Streatham on September 5, 2022.

Assistant Commissioner Laurence Taylor said: “We made strong representations that he should not face any further action due to the extensive evidence tried and tested at court and the not guilty verdict returned by the jury.”

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said “after a thorough review of all evidence”, the case continues to meet the threshold which requires Sgt Blake to attend a misconduct hearing.

Mr Kaba, a father-to-be from Wembley, was unarmed when he was shot in the head following a car chase.

Police did not know who was driving the Audi but it had been used as a getaway car in another shooting in South London the day before, Sgt Blake’s murder trial heard.

Dozens of armed Met cops downed tools in protest when Sgt Blake was charged with murder in September 2023, and the Army was put on standby.

IOPC Director Amanda Rowe said: “We understand the impact this decision will have on Chris Kaba’s family and Sergeant Blake and acknowledge the significant public interest in this case, particularly among our Black communities, firearms officers and the wider policing community.

“The legal test for deciding whether there is a case to answer is low – is there sufficient evidence upon which, on the balance of probabilities, a disciplinary panel could make a finding of misconduct. This has been met and therefore we need to follow the legal process.

“We appreciate that the Home Office is carrying out a review of the legal test for the use of force in misconduct cases, however, we must apply the law as it currently stands.”

But AC Taylor said the force knows that “another lengthy process” would “fall heavily on the shoulders” of Sgt Blake and other firearms officers.

He said: “Our armed officers respond to more than 4,000 incidents each year, but there are only one or two incidents where shots are fired by police each year.

“These officers are the most professional, accountable and cautious in their use of lethal force in the world and their operations have prevented countless acts of violence across our city.

“Now is not the time for debate and discussion about this case, it is important that we do not risk prejudicing the right to an impartial hearing.”

Sgt Blake was publicly named during his trial, as is standard practice, but restrictions remain in place banning the publication of his address or any description or image of him.

Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is bringing in legal changes that will give police marksmen accused of murder the right to anonymity unless they are convicted.

A date for the hearing will be set in due course. To ensure independence from the Met for an impartial hearing, the force will be asking a chief officer from another police force to chair it.

Pictured top: Chris Kaba (Picture: The Met)