‘Why did you kill my son?’ Grieving mum confronts gun officer
THE Scotland Yard officer accused of murdering an unarmed black man was confronted by his grieving mother yesterday after being named for the first time.
Martyn Blake is alleged to have shot Chris Kaba, 24, through a car windscreen after police stopped his vehicle in Streatham Hill, south London, in September 2022.
The firearms officer was named for the first time after an anonymity order was lifted during a plea hearing at the Old
Bailey. The defendant was known only as NX121 in earlier court hearings, but the Recorder of London, Mark Lucraft KC, ruled that naming the officer posed no real or immediate risk to his life or that of his family.
During a brief hearing at the Old Bailey, Blake spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, and to enter a not guilty plea to the charge.
But within minutes of being identified, the officer was confronted by the victim’s family as he was leaving court.
Mr Kaba’s sobbing mother Helen Lumuanganu screamed: ‘Why did you kill my son? Why did you kill my son?’ Blake, who was flanked by four Met colleagues, left the court without comment.
The decision to name the officer has horrified armed colleagues who staged a mass walkout last year in protest when he was charged.
Hundreds of officers turned in their firearms permits allowing them to carry weapons in fury at over the decision.
They returned to work days later after the then home secretary, Suella Braverman, ordered a review into armed policing guidelines, as the Met Commissioner stressed the need for reform of the way officers
‘We are saddened by this decision’
are held to account when they use force in the course of their duties.
Rick Prior, acting chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: ‘The federation and the colleagues we represent are hugely shocked, saddened and concerned over the decision to name the firearms officer.
‘We still await the results of the Home Office’s “accountability review” into operational policing but it goes without saying that our police officers must have full confidence that they have the protection needed to do this difficult and dangerous job society expects of them.’
Blake, 40, was initially granted anonymity when he was charged due to concerns about a risk to his life, but the judge partially lifted the order yesterday. It is still prohibited to publish a photograph of the officer or his address.
Blake is alleged to have fired a single shot which went through the windscreen of an Audi Q8 that Mr Kaba was driving. The Audi was not owned by Mr Kaba, nor was it registered in his name.
Deborah Coles, of the Inquest campaign group, said: ‘Police cannot and should not be above the law. Accountability for police officers and forces involved in death, even where evidence of criminality and wrongdoing is identified, is extremely rare.
‘In any other murder trial, the accused would be publicly named. This case is no different. We welcome today’s decision.’