Police officer who shot Chris Kaba denies murder as he is named for first time

The Metropolitan Police marksman who shot dead Chris Kaba has denied murder as he was named publicly for the first time.

Martyn Blake, 40, appeared at the Old Bailey on Friday, where he spoke to confirm his name and date of birth, and to enter a not guilty plea to the charge.

Mr Kaba, 24, was shot once in the head through the windscreen of a car in Streatham, south London, in September 2022.

His home address or any image or description of him cannot be published.

Members of Mr Kaba’s family were in court at the Old Bailey on Friday as the officer was named, with some leaving the courtroom in tears during the hearing.

Flowers at the scene in south London where Chris Kaba was shot
Flowers at the scene in south London where Chris Kaba was shot (PA)

The trial is expected to take three weeks and will be before Mr Justice Goss.

On the day of the shooting, Mr Kaba was driving an Audi that did not belong to him, and turned into Kirstall Gardens where he collided with a marked police car, before he was shot.

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