Chris Kaba - why was there a prosecution?

[whenemmafallsinlove]

I have only seen the recent coverage but it seems undisputed that this man was in a car involved in a violent crime, he had a history of involvement in violent crime and in being stopped he used the car as a weapon to try and get away which endangered everybody around him including the police.
So was the potential crime the amount of force used? Because otherwise it seems hard to understand and I can completely appreciate why so many officers laid down arms as a result.
Please explain!

That car had been used in a gun crime the day before. He refused to get out of the car and then rammed his car into the police's car. It's very very hard to have any sympathy for him particularly given his past criminal record and current charges.

It is shamwful that the family hijacked the BLM movement to possibly insinuate that this was another George Floyd. As shameful was the left wings coverage of this event which has a fair bit of egg on faces after the reporting restrictions were lifted.

Ah yes, that loving father and son, a lovely boy, all round good guy bla, bla bla.
He would not have hesitated to murder someone himself and probably did.
If the police indicated they wanted me to stop, I might be a bit confused as to why but I would stop my car and speak to them, not try to escape, crash into their cars and give them no choice but to stop me by force.

I have zero sympathy for him. If you don't want to get shot by the police, don't join a gang, shoot someone in both knees, drive around in a car used in an armed robbery or act like you're about to ram your car into people.

I do feel incredibly sorry for the poor police officer who had to make a split second decision because he was concerned his colleagues were about to be run over. Now he's been dragged through the courts, vilified and his life is at risk.

I doubt very much this case would have been brought if CK had been white. What a waste of public money and possibly millions will have to be spent on protecting the poor police officer.

The shooters defensive was quite categorical the they didn't know who was in the car. Given that fact, the judge decided the dead man's previous was immaterial. So far, so logical.

There has been examples of civil unrest when a black man is killed by a police officer, so referring the case to a jury to decide, seems a safe and logical way to proceed.

I take into account the stress that must have been put on the police officer, their family and friends. Nevertheless, it seems to me that the CPS and the judge acted reasonably.

As an aside. I also think the jury acted reasonably too.

He should still be alive. But it was not the police officer's fault that he is not.

The deceased should take the blame.

How do you disable a car in that precise situation?

The rest of your post are your words. Not anyone else's on here. You might want to reflect on that.

Another campaigner, Kayza Rose, said the outcome "reinforces the harsh reality that police can kill without consequence". She added: "No-one can be safe while the police can kill with impunity.
**
"This verdict is not the end. It only strengthens our resolve.”

This quote from the BBC just goes to show how much American culture has infiltrated the UK.

It is very important that we do not forget this ruling.

There are plenty of agents out there who want to destroy our society. We are up against it every day. From extremist teachers, to ambulance-chasing lawyers, to politicians to Putin.

Personally I say shame on his family.

Really appreciate the replies. It does seem to me the car was being used as a lethal weapon and that's what led to the shot.

Both hands on the steering wheel and his foot hard on the accelerator of a 2 odd ton machine trying to run people over.

Having murdered someone the day before (allegedly), and possibly with firearms in the vehicle with him.

Oddly, I've never found myself in a position where my car is flagged as having been involved in a murder the day before, having armed officers sent to intercept, and then tried to ram everything out in order to get away, so have never risked being shot.

Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

It was a complete waste of time and money.
A police officer and his family has had his life destroyed for the past two years because the CPS are spineless.
It was perfectly obvious from information and bodycam footage today that the prosecution was about race and not justice

Agree with @needhelpwiththisplease

Just a political exercise- sadly needed though due to the way this country is being ran

Disgusting how the family have tried to spin this by talking about him expecting a child - when he was banned from contacting the mother - and claiming the police don’t value “people like us” when they knew he was ruining the lives of numerous black young people via county lines, not to mention shooting someone in a night club. How could anyone have greater disrespect for human life than this man?

In my service two police officers have been murdered by being rammed with vehicles. I have personally dealt with another attempted murder of a colleague who was rammed with a vehicle causing life long injuries. Both hands on the wheel is irrelevant. Cars are lethal weapons when driven at someone. It’s impossible to disable a vehicle in that situation.

I’d like to think the charge wasn’t politically motivated but the footage that’s been released is galling. I suspect if he hasn’t fired first the other officers present certainly would have. My heart goes out to the officer and his family who must have been through hell. He is likely to also face misconduct investigations by the IOPC who often take years to conclude their proceedings. This isn’t the end of this for him sadly. Although any misconduct panel would doubtless exonerate him yet again.

I feel so sorry for the police officer and his family - I hope they remain safe and get their lives back

Thank you @Ponkyandthebrain a very insightful post but I’m sure the people defending the criminal will have no interest.

I expect they want compensation or 'followers' and clicks.

I recall the press reports of a family of a well-known war veteran who got pilloried for cashing in on his memory. Let's hope this family get equal treatment.

Disgusting to hear the family talking about him “leaving a child behind”. The mother of his child had a domestic violence protection order against him. They really have no shame.

I can understand they’re angry and sad but they’re aiming it at the wrong people here.

In the video it looks like they tell him to stop and then he put his hands up.
You then see one of his hands go onto the steering wheel to drive off and then the car crashes into the side of the police car. He wasn’t sitting with his hands in the air. I could see why the police said they were worried he was going to drive into someone. I can’t see how they would disable a car in seconds.

Another campaigner, Kayza Rose, said the outcome "reinforces the harsh reality that police can kill without consequence". She added: "No-one can be safe while the police can kill with impunity.
**
"This verdict is not the end. It only strengthens our resolve.”

This quote from the BBC just goes to show how much American culture has infiltrated the UK.

UK police rarely fire intentionally:

https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-use-of-firearms-statistics-england-and-wales-april-2022-to-march-2023/police-use-of-firearms-statistics-england-and-wales-april-2022-to-march-2023

Quite

He had both hands on the steering wheel of the car that he was using as a weapon which was a threat to the lives of the police officers. HTH

Do his family seriously think that most won't agree with the verdict- especially when the jury were not presented with the mitigating circumstances and defence were having to work with one hand tied behind their back .