London police officer who shot dead Chris Kaba found not guilty of murder

The commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has warned that “crushing the spirit” of officers will make London less safe after a firearms officer was cleared of murdering Chris Kaba.
Martyn Blake fired one fatal shot through the windscreen of the Audi Q8 that Kaba was driving on the evening of Sept 5, 2022 after the 24-year-old had tried to escape from police in Streatham, South London.
Speaking after the verdict, Sir Mark Rowley said: “We have been clear that the system holding police to account is broken.
“I worry about the lack of support officers face for doing their best, but most of all I worry for the public.
“The more we crush the spirit of good officers, the less they can fight crime. That risks London becoming less safe.”
Following a three-week trial at the Old Bailey, a jury took three hours to find Mr Blake not guilty of murder, and Sir Mark praised the jury system as the “cornerstone of British justice”.
Calling the verdict “significant”, Sir Mark added: “No firearms officer sets out on duty intent on ending a life. Their sole purpose is the complete opposite – the protection and the preservation of life.”
Despite being cleared of the criminal charge, Mr Blake may still face a gross misconduct hearing that could result in him being dismissed.
He told jurors he genuinely feared for his colleagues’ lives when Kaba attempted to drive through a blocked residential street, as other officers said they too would have opened fire if in the same position. 
Protests took place outside the Old Bailey in the evening, at which Chris Kaba’s cousin, Sheeda Queen, branded the jury’s decision as “shameful”.
Earlier, in a statement issued by campaign group Inquest, Chris Kaba’s family said: “Today, we are devastated. The not guilty verdict leaves us with the deep pain of injustice adding to the unbearable sorrow we have felt since Chris was killed.
“No family should endure the unimaginable grief we have faced. Chris was stolen from us, and this decision shows his life – and many others like him – does not matter to the system. Our son deserved better.
“The acquittal of Martyn Blake isn’t just a failure for our family, but for all those affected by police violence.” 
Thank you for following our live coverage. Here is a recap of what happened today:
Breaking down in tears, Sheeda Queen, a cousin of Chris Kaba, told the crowd that the speed of the verdict was “shameful”. 
She said: “My family can’t be here. On the first day, when we started the trial, we watched footage of Chris being killed. We carried on watching it because it was part of the evidence.
“My auntie started shaking.. crying uncontrollably. My auntie and uncle both got health conditions because of this trauma.”
Amid chants of “shame”, she added: “We had some hope, just a little, that maybe Chris’s case would be the first. 
“Are we surprised though? So shameful that we are not surprised the verdict came back guilty in a couple of hours.” 
Drums beat to the chant of “no justice, no peace” as the crowd of around 150 began to disperse.
Some held signs including “ashamed to be white” and “born 1999, lynched 2022”. 
Emily Spurrell, chairwoman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners (APCC) and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Merseyside, said: “I wish to extend my sympathies to Chris Kaba’s family who will find today’s verdict difficult to come to terms with.
“Police firearms discharges are very rare, but the consequences can be catastrophic.
“It is, of course, right that such incidents are investigated and, if the evidence is there, prosecuted in the criminal courts.
“PCCs have a legal duty to make sure the highest standards are in place regarding the safety and security of firearms, both for the public and those who carry them.
“We, along with Government and the wider policing sector, need to reflect on the wider implications.”
The crowd, which has now amassed around 70 people, listened on as speakers suggested the Metropolitan Police are “corrupt”.
“That’s what this country likes, racism,” Temi Mwale said, adding: “It is a falsehood to believe that we should justify these institutions, the policing… as the only thing that can keep us safe.”
She continued: “This is not just Chris’s story, this is a story that has affected so many people. This is pain.
“We are the community, we keep each other safe, we keep the peace.”
Ms Mwale asked the crowd: “Why are our police trained to shoot to kill? Why are they fighting for the continued right to do so?”
Brian Booth, the Police Federation’s acting deputy national chairman, said reverberations of the Chris Kaba case had been felt beyond the bounds of the Metropolitan Police. 
He said: “Police officers across the other 42 forces in England and Wales are rightly asking what protection they have when doing such a dangerous, complex and demanding job.  
“The Government must now urgently implement the Accountability Review recommendations so that legal safeguards can be established to allow police officers to have the confidence to do their job, serving and protecting the public.”
Around 30 demonstrators have gathered outside the Old Bailey in protest over the Chris Kaba verdict.
Standing silently they hold two makeshift signs reading “police are perpetrators” and “we keep each other safe”.
Chants of “no justice, no peace” break through the drone of a police helicopter that circles above the Old Bailey.
Speaking on a microphone, Temi Mwale, founder of the 4Front Project, said: “It hurts to be told you don’t have any value in society”. 
Earlier, Ms Mwale said in a video on social media: “We need you, our community, all concerned citizens who think that the police should be held accountable for their actions and should not be allowed to kill with impunity, we urge you to gather with us here today outside the Old Bailey at 7pm. 
She added: “We understand that for us as a black community in particular our lives still mean nothing to this system but to each other we mean everything and we will continue to fight.”
Deborah Coles, director of campaign group Inquest, said “it is difficult to reconcile the verdict with the evidence heard at the trial and the shocking reality of an unarmed black man being shot in the head.”
She added: “We know that Chris’s death is not an isolated case but part of systemic racism and stereotyping that equates black men with dangerousness.
“For decades, black men have disproportionately been killed by the police.
“This verdict must not now be used by the police lobby to further dilute police accountability.”
Bell Ribeiro-Addy, MP for Clapham and Brixton Hill, has urged the public to “respect the legal process and the fact that the CPS believed there was sufficient evidence to bring a murder charge.”
She said: “Whilst police officers undeniably have a difficult job and work under exceptional pressures, this trial shows nobody is above the law. 
“The fatal shooting of Chris Kaba caused considerable fear, anger and pain not only in our community but in communities across London. 
“Trust and confidence in policing has long been a problem in London, particularly within the Black community. We need urgent efforts to rebuild trust between police and communities.”
Temi Mwale and Kayza Rose, of the Justice For Chris Kaba Campaign, said the verdict was “a devastating moment for the Kaba family, our community, and the nation”.
In a statement issued through campaign group Inquest, they said: “Martyn Blake’s acquittal is painful proof that our lives are not valued by this system.
“The fight for accountability, justice, and racial equity has spanned decades, and we honour all those who have contributed.
“Despite today’s verdict, our commitment remains unwavering.
“For the Kaba family, justice was never just about a conviction – it’s about systemic change, a fight we will not abandon as a campaign.
“This outcome reinforces the harsh reality that police can kill without consequence.
“No one can be safe while the police can kill with impunity.”
David Spencer, Head of Crime and Justice at Policy Exchange and former Met Police Det Chief Insp said: “It speaks volumes that the jury took less than three hours to find this officer Not Guilty. 
“Police firearms officers in England and Wales were deployed on 17,589 operations for the year to March 2024 – they intentionally discharged their firearms only twice. 
“This case, like the massive falls in stop and search, shows the systems for holding officers to account are preventing police officers from doing their job – something that it is to the detriment of the law-abiding majority of people in this country and benefits only the criminal minority.”
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “I respect the decision made by the jury today following a full examination of a large amount of evidence – including video from the incident.
“In London, we police by consent. When anyone loses their life following contact with the police, it’s important that it is properly and thoroughly investigated, which is what’s happened in this case.
“Firearms officers work under the most extraordinary pressure, carrying with them unique responsibilities and often putting themselves in harm’s way to protect others.
“I understand the impact Chris Kaba’s death has had on London’s communities and the anger, pain and fear it has caused. I send my heartfelt sympathies to Chris Kaba’s family, friends and the wider community once again. 
“There’s clearly still a wider lack of trust in the police, particularly within the Black community, that needs to be addressed. As Mayor, I will continue to work with the Government to support and hold the Metropolitan Police to account to ensure any lessons are learnt and the Met commands the trust of all Londoners as we build a safer London for everyone.”
The Home Secretary has said the jury’s decision to acquit Martyn Blake of the murder of Chris Kaba must be respected. 
Yvette Cooper said: “The jury has come to a conclusion – Sergeant Martyn Blake has been acquitted – and it is imperative that is respected and everyone is given the space to process the verdict.
“Criminal prosecutions brought against police officers for actions taken in the course of their duties are extremely rare. Each day, police officers across the country work hard with bravery and integrity to keep the public safe.
“The British tradition of policing by consent relies on mutual bonds of trust between the public and the police. It is important both that the police have the confidence of communities they serve and that officers have the support and confidence they need to do the difficult job of keeping us safe.”
The commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has praised firearms officers for “bravely” intervening, in the wake of the Chris Kaba verdict. 
Sir Mark Rowley said Martyn Blake had “paid a huge personal and professional sacrifice” over the past two years and acted with “professionalism and dignity throughout”.
He added: “Armed officers bravely intervened, not knowing the risk that they were about to face.
“Sgt Blake made a split-second decision on what he believed was necessary to protect his colleagues and to protect London.”
Sir Mark noted that armed officers respond to more than 4,000 incidents each year, with shots fired at just “one or two”.
He said: “It is undeniable that they are the most professional, most accountable and most cautious in their use of lethal force in the world.”
Sir Mark said he remained “humbled and deeply proud” of his officers, before thanking them for their service. 
In a statement issued by campaign group Inquest, Chris Kaba’s family said: “Today, we are devastated. The not guilty verdict leaves us with the deep pain of injustice adding to the unbearable sorrow we have felt since Chris was killed.
“No family should endure the unimaginable grief we have faced. Chris was stolen from us, and this decision shows his life – and many others like him – does not matter to the system. Our son deserved better.
“The acquittal of Martyn Blake isn’t just a failure for our family, but for all those affected by police violence.
“Despite this verdict, we won’t be silenced. We are deeply grateful to everyone who stood by us and fought for justice. We will continue fighting for Chris, for justice, and for real change. Chris’ life mattered, and nothing can take that away from us.”
Dame Priti Patel, the former home secretary who resigned on Sept 5 2022, hours before the shooting, said: “This police officer has been through a traumatic ordeal, and the case has had a huge reputational impact on his career and on the force at large.
“There are important questions for the CPS to answer over the evidence base they had and their reasons for pursuing it. There needs to be transparency and accountability.
“We need public confidence in our institutions.”
Robert Jenrick has described the firearms officer who killed Chris Kaba as a “hero” and urged the public to support the police. 
The Tory leadership candidate wrote on X: “Martyn Blake, the firearms officer cleared today, was a hero who found himself fearing for his life and the life of his colleagues.  
“His prosecution was wrong and endangered the public. The ordeal he has gone through, unthinkable. We must back our brave police officers, and not drag them through the courts for making split second decisions.”
Amanda Rowe, director of the Independent Office for Police Conduct, said: “Armed policing plays a crucial part in protecting our communities and keeping the public safe from danger.
“Firearms officers can, and do, find themselves in extremely dangerous and volatile situations where they are forced to make difficult and quick decisions under intense pressure.
“It’s important to recognise that fatal police shootings are rare, particularly in relation to the volume of incidents firearms officers are called to attend.”
She added: “We appreciate this trial will have been of significant public interest, and particularly so within our Black communities.”
Ms Rowe noted that it was the IPOC’s role to independently investigate the circumstances surrounding a fatal police shooting and, following the CPS decision to charge, it is “ultimately the jury’s decision”. She thanked the jury for their consideration. 
She also extended sympathies to the family of Chris Kaba, for whom the trial was “incredibly difficult and distressing”, and the wider policing community. 
The family of Chris Kaba has walked away from the courtroom in the Old Bailey in silence with their police family liaison officer.
One relative could be seen rocking backwards and forwards as the verdict was delivered.
Frank Ferguson, head of the CPS Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division, said: “First and foremost I want to say that my thoughts and those of the CPS remain with the family of Chris Kaba.
“Today armed Metropolitan Police officer Martyn Blake has been found not guilty of the charge of murder. We fully respect the jury’s decision.
“This has been a complex and sensitive case and the decision to prosecute was made after an in-depth consideration of all the available evidence.
“We recognise that firearms officers operate under enormous pressure, but it is our responsibility to put cases before a jury that meet our test for prosecution, and we are satisfied that test was met in this case.
“It is therefore right that the case was put before the jury for them to scrutinise and to decide. They have carefully considered each piece of evidence, including video and Martyn Blake’s own account. They have made up their minds in the proper way and we thank them for doing so.”
This is a reconstruction of the events which led to the death of Chris Kaba in Streatham on the evening of 5 September 2022. 
Kaba, driving a black Audi Q8, attempted to drive past a stationary police car which had been blocking the road before being killed by a single shot through his windscreen.
The Audi reversed a short distance, hitting an unmarked car behind, before accelerating forward. The vehicle reached 12mph before colliding with the BMW and a parked Tesla. 
A police officer who shot dead Chris Kaba in south London after he tried to ram his way out of a police roadblock has been cleared of his murder.
Martyn Blake, a Scotland Yard armed officer, fired at the Audi Q8 being driven by Kaba as he attempted to evade police in Streatham on the evening of 5 September 2022.
While Kaba’s identity was not known at the time, the vehicle had been linked to two previous firearms incidents including a shooting outside a primary school the night before.
A jury took just three hours to find him not guilty of murder following a three week trial at the Old Bailey.