The police officer who shot Chris Kaba dead is likely to face gross misconduct charges and if found guilty could be dismissed despite being cleared of murder.
MailOnline revealed today that Met firearms officer Martyn Blake is still unable to return to work – even though he was found not guilty – because the threat of a police watchdog misconduct hearing looms over him.
It is now considered likely Blake will be subject to misconduct charges, particularly in light of an unrelated Supreme Court ruling over the fatal shooting of Jermaine Baker during an attempted prison break in London in 2015.
The marksman, 40, walked free from the Old Bailey yesterday after a jury cleared him over the 2022 incident in just three hours following a near-three-week trial.
But fury has abounded over the reputational damage done to Blake and the prospect of his dismissal.
Metropolitan Police marksman Martyn Blake, 40, has been cleared at the Old Bailey of the murder of Chris Kaba, 24, who was fatally shot in Streatham, south-east London, on September 5, 2022. Sgt Blake is not able to return to work despite the verdict
Footage of the moment armed officers ran towards Mr Kaba’s car which was hemmed in. He tried to drive away
Sgt Blake, also known as officer NX121, told the Central Criminal Court that he feared for his life when he made the fatal shot after Kaba had tried to ram his way out of a police stop in an Audi Q8 that police believed was linked to a firearms incident the night before.
It is understood the Met initially backed the view to pursue disciplinary charges against Blake but then changed its view in light of Blake’s acquittal.
Blake is having to live in hiding, fearing for his life and his family after a £10,000 reward was offered to anyone prepared to offer information on his whereabouts in order to kill him in revenge for the death of Mr Kaba.
It has since emerged also that Mr Kaba was one of London’s most feared gangsters with a shocking history of violence.
The Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) is thought to be likely to direct a gross misconduct hearing, although it will review the evidence at Blake’s trial first in case anything has emerged that could change its decision.
While trial evidence is assessed, the Met will have the opportunity to provide a fresh view.
It is considered likely Blake will face the gross misconduct charges in light of the Supreme Court ruling on Jermaine Baker who was killed during an attempted prison break in London in 2015.
The post-trial review process by the IOPC is standard practice for investigations where an officer is acquitted of criminal charges but was found to have a case to answer for gross misconduct.
But the revelation that the Met privately backed gross misconduct last year has added to concerns from firearms officers around the support available.
When police boxed in the vehicle in a residential street in Streatham, Mr Kaba used the car as a ‘battering ram’ revving back and forth in the high-powered Audi almost dragging the ten officers surrounding him under the wheels before Sergeant Blake finally ended the rampage by shooting the driver.
This morning the Old Bailey judge lifted an order banning the media from disclosing his Mr Kaba’s involvement in multiple shootings across the capital.
He was a leading member of the 67 gang, which police consider the most dangerous gang in South London.
Just six days before his death, Mr Kaba brazenly gunned down a rival in the middle of a crowded nightclub during a bloody feud for control of a profitable county lines drug network.
In an extraordinary case which has profound implications for national security, hundreds of firearms officers around the country downed their weapons in protest when Blake was charged as colleagues argued that he was just trying to save them.
Last night the Met Commissioner praised his officer’s bravery, while MP Robert Jenrick described Mr Blake as a ‘hero’ saying his prosecution had ‘endangered the public’.
It comes after more than 200 protesters gathered outside the Old Bailey with Mr Kaba’s family on Monday evening.
A banner was held that said ‘We Keep Each Other Safe’, as well as placards saying ‘Justice for Chris Kaba’, and chants of ‘Say his name – Chris Kaba’ and ‘No justice – no peace’ were heard outside the court.
Protesters gather after the trial verdict where Blake was cleared of Mr Kaba’s murder
A banner was held that said ‘We Keep Each Other Safe’, as well as placards saying ‘Justice for Chris Kaba’, and chants of ‘Say his name – Chris Kaba’ and ‘No justice – no peace’ were heard outside the court
Mr Kaba’s family said the verdict was a failure ‘for all those affected by police violence’, adding that ‘no family should endure the unimaginable grief we have faced’.
In a statement issued by campaign group Inquest, Mr Kaba’s family said they would ‘continue fighting for Chris, for justice, and for real change’.
Some protesters bore signs including ‘ashamed to be white’ and ‘born 1999, lynched 2022’ in reference to the death of Kaba.
Breaking down in tears, Sheeda Queen, a cousin of Mr Kaba, told the crowd the speed of Martyn Blake’s acquittal 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.’