A Metropolitan Police firearms officer has been found not guilty of the murder of Chris Kaba.
Chris Kaba, a 24 year old Black man, was fatally shot by Martyn Blake, a firearms officer from the Metropolitan Police on 5 September 2022 in Streatham, London. He was unarmed.
On 5 September 2024, Metropolitan police forced the car Chris was driving to stop believing it was linked to a firearms incident the previous night in nearby Brixton. The car was not registered to Chris and was not stolen.
The officers did not know who was driving the car. Chris was unarmed and had his hands clearly visible on the steering wheel. Blake rushed out of his car and within a few seconds shot Chris in the head.
During the trial, Martyn Blake described having seen Chris as a “Black male who looked comparatively young and athletic”. The prosecution argued that the trained firearms officer decided to shoot “precipitously” whilst the car was stationary and hemmed in at the back with no risk to anyone as the other officers were not nearby.
They also argued that Martyn Blake deliberately made false and exaggerated statements to create an element of danger that did not exist when he decided to shoot Chris.
Martyn Blake was charged with Chris’ murder by the Crown Prosecution Service on 20 September 2023. At no point did the defence put in an application that he had no case to answer for. Today, the jury at The Old Bailey has found him not guilty.
Following the jury’s verdict, Chris’ family made the following statement: “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.”
Temi Mwale and Kayza Rose of the Justice for Chris Kaba Campaign, said: “Today is a devastating moment for the Kaba family, our community, and the nation. 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 honor 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. We stand with the families who lost loved ones before Chris, still seeking justice. This verdict is not the end – it only strengthens our resolve. Now is the time to join the fight for a future where justice and accountability are the norm, and no one is above the law. True justice for our community must go beyond the criminal legal system. It must deliver real repair, healing, and lasting transformation. Rest in Power Chris Kaba.”
Deborah Coles, Director of 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.
It is clear from our work that when the police kill, they seek to operate above the law. This verdict must not now be used by the police lobby to further dilute police accountability.
We know that Chris’ 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.
However, the conviction of one police officer does not stop the violence, racism and misogyny entrenched in police culture and practice.
Real justice and accountability is when the deaths and harms of policing stop. To achieve this, we must urgently redirect resources away from police and into communities.”
Daniel Machover and Ellie Cornish of Hickman and Rose, who represent the family, said: “In this case, the IOPC once again failed to treat the officers involved in a death as suspects from the start, instead labelling them as ‘significant witnesses,’ as is too often the norm.”
“After any death following police contact, key officers should be treated as suspects right away, with their status changed to witnesses only if appropriate after an initial investigation. Police officers expect to be treated as witnesses, but for real accountability, this needs to change within both the police and the IOPC. If a member of the public is directly involved in someone’s death they’re invariably treated as a suspect – why should police officers be different? Public trust depends on holding police to the same standard.”
They continued: “This trial revealed that treating officers as suspects offers them better legal protection than the current ‘Post Incident Procedure,’ which applies until someone is considered a suspect. We need more trials like this, not fewer, but it requires stronger investigations and a shift in mindset at the IOPC and CPS.”
