The Metropolitan Police has requested that a full inquest into the death of Chris Kaba not proceed, following the acquittal of the firearms officer involved. Kaba, 24, was shot and killed by officer Martyn Blake (cipher NX121) in September 2022.
The incident occurred after armed officers stopped the Audi 4x4 Kaba was driving, which had reportedly been used as a getaway vehicle in a prior gang-related shooting in Brixton. Police boxed in the vehicle in Streatham, and Kaba is said to have revved the car back and forth, nearly trapping officers under its wheels before Blake fired his weapon.
Blake, a 42-year-old officer, was cleared of murder by a jury at the Old Bailey. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) had previously stated that Blake should face a gross misconduct hearing, but this probe was dropped in August.
Representing the Met Police, Jason Beer KC argued that resuming the inquest could be confusing and is not in the public interest. He stated that the investigation into whether there was misconduct or culpability has already occurred, and the fact that no issues were found by the investigative body does not necessitate an inquest. Beer contended that the proposed inquest was becoming overly broad and that there must be an endpoint to the process.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner James Harman echoed these sentiments, emphasizing that the circumstances of Kaba's death and the actions of officer NX121 have been thoroughly examined during the IOPC investigation and criminal trial. He noted that the officer has faced four years of stress and uncertainty and has been cleared of wrongdoing, suggesting that duplicating these investigations is not in the public interest.
However, lawyers for Kaba's family are demanding a full inquest. Their barrister, Matthew Ryder KC, argued that the central question remains "why did this police officer shoot our son?" and that an inquest is necessary to explore elements such as the positioning of police vehicles and whether the officer's belief was unreasonable. Ryder stated that in all known cases where a police officer has shot someone in public, an inquest has been held.
Coroner Dr. Julian Morris acknowledged that while he has the "who, what, and where," the family's focus on "why" presents a challenge. Ryder countered that in cases of fatal police shootings, the distinction between how and why is often blurred, particularly if the officer's actions were based on an unreasonable assessment of the situation.
Chris Kaba was described as a member of the Brixton Hill-based 67 gang. Six days before his death, he was involved in an incident where he allegedly shot a rival gang member in the leg.