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Original poster

Police officer cleared

861 replies

Toomanywars · 21/10/2024 18:39

Martin Blake police officer today cleared by a jury of unlawful killing of Chris Kaba

Should police officers get more support. Perhaps not release name until after trial or inquiry.

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Original poster
Toomanywars · 21/10/2024 18:50

"He had been followed by police because the Audi car he was driving had been linked to a shooting in Brixton the night before.
Jurors heard that Mr Kaba drove backwards and forwards trying to ram his way free, which Mr Blake said made him believe one of his colleagues was about to die, and so he opened fire to stop the car.
A fellow firearms officer known as DS87 said he would have taken a shot if Mr Blake had not, and another identified by the cypher E156 said he was "fractions of a second" away from doing the same.
Another, NX109, got the finger of his glove caught in the Audi's door handle and just managed to wrench it free as it moved forward, telling the jury he thought he would be dragged between it and a Tesla parked nearby."

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JaniceBattersby · 21/10/2024 18:50

Police officers should absolutely be named at charge, the same as any defendant. We can’t have one rule for some members of society and another for others - especially if they’re police officers. Trust in the criminal justice system is low enough without such an affront to open justice.

There was no chance any jury was ever going to convict him on that evidence but I am glad it was tested in court. If it hadn’t been, public confidence in the Met would have been further dented and the victim’s family would have called for justice for the next two decades. The prosecution of a police officer shooting a member of the public is usually going to be in the public interest, even if there’s a likely not guilty verdict.

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crockofshite · 21/10/2024 18:48

Does anyone know what Chris Kaba was up to? Or Why the armed officers were there?

FloofPaws · 21/10/2024 18:48

No one should ever be named, and the papers should support this too. It must be a dreadfully hard job, and they're treated like criminals for doing the thing they dread doing the most in their job - bloody awful, I'd never join the police force

TigerRag · 21/10/2024 18:47

No one should be named until after the trial and only if found guilty

johndeer · 21/10/2024 18:46

It’s really great news.

Whothefuckdoesthat · 21/10/2024 18:46

Absolutely the correct decision.

CheeryUser · 21/10/2024 18:45

Fantastic news. Clearly the correct decision by the jury.

Anothercoffeeafter3 · 21/10/2024 18:43

Decisions made once the authority to arm has been given should not be subject to normal law. These people carry the mental weight that one day they may have to take a life to protect ours, they shouldn't have to carry the weight that if someone doesn't agree it goes to criminal court.

Original poster
Toomanywars · 21/10/2024 18:41

Basically there were riots and protests after a man Chris Kaba was shot by an armed police officer.

Officer was charged and today acquitted by a jury.

Is society or protesters quick to assume unlawful killing.

Officers and the public need to be kept safe.

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