A police officer has been acquitted of murder charges after fatally shooting an unarmed man in south London during a vehicle stop two years ago.
The officer, Martyn Blake, 40, shot 24-year-old Chris Kaba in September 2022 during a police stop in Streatham.
Blake was cleared of all charges at the Old Bailey. As the jury delivered its not guilty verdict, the officer took a deep breath but remained otherwise emotionless.
The incident occurred when Kaba, who was driving an Audi Q8, was stopped by police. Blake fired a single shot through the vehicle’s windscreen, resulting in Kaba’s death. The court heard that Kaba was unarmed at the time of the shooting and was due to become a father.
Kaba’s death sparked widespread protests and calls for accountability within the police force, raising broader questions about police conduct and the use of firearms in the UK.
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