WILL JONES
Sgt Martyn Blake, the armed Metropolitan police officer who was cleared of murdering violent gangster Chris Kaba, now faces a gross misconduct disciplinary over the shooting and could be sacked. The Telegraph has the story.
Sgt Martyn Blake shot dead Chris Kaba in Streatham in September 2022 after he drove at officers in an attempt to smash his way out of a police roadblock.
The highly trained firearms specialist has been told he must appear before a hearing accused of gross misconduct following a review of the case by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC). The Telegraph understands that the IOPC will announce its decision on Wednesday.
Sgt Blake opened fire to protect his colleagues, but he was charged with murder following an IOPC investigation and went on trial at the Old Bailey in October last year.
However, jurors took just three hours to find him not guilty of the charge, and Scotland Yard immediately reinstated him.
Following his acquittal, Sir Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner, said he feared charging the police in such situations was “crushing the spirit of good officers” and was making London less safe.
He said the 40-year-old officer had made huge personal and professional sacrifices but had acted with professionalism and dignity throughout.
But despite being completely exonerated in the criminal courts, Sgt Blake now faces the prospect of losing his livelihood over the shooting.
This is because disciplinary offences are based on the civil test, which states that an honest but mistaken belief must also be “reasonable”.
He will now have to appear before a misconduct panel to determine his future.
Responding to the announcement, Mark Williams, Chief Executive of the Police Firearms Officers’ Association, said: “Today’s decision by the IOPC recommending Martyn Blake faces a misconduct board is a hammer blow to him, his family and armed policing in general.
“After unanimously being found not guilty by an Old Bailey jury it seems completely wrong he now has to endure a misconduct board where he could potentially lose his job.
“As well as the welfare issues this causes him, the morale of men and women who carry firearms to protect us will be damaged once again.”
Worth reading in full. (Also covered in the Mail.)
See Related Video Below
They Are Out to Get Him!
Firearms Sergeant acquitted of murder now faces IOPC Probe for the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba. This all after a Crown Court trial where the jury acquitted in under 3 hours.
WATCH:
Featured image: The Telegraph
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