A firearms officer testifying at the Old Bailey has described the “incredibly frightening” moments leading up to the fatal shooting of 24-year-old Chris Kaba during a police stop in south London. The officer, referred to as HA10 to protect her anonymity, recounted her fear that a colleague had been hit by a car just before Kaba was shot by Met Police officer Martyn Blake on 5 September 2022.
Officer HA10 was giving evidence in defence of Blake, 40, who is on trial for the murder of Mr Kaba. Blake shot Mr Kaba through the windscreen of an Audi that had been linked to a shotgun incident the night before.
The court heard that HA10 was part of a convoy of armed police vehicles that had followed the Audi to Streatham, where a decision was made to initiate an enforced stop. HA10 told the jury she immediately exited her vehicle after the stop and crossed the road behind an unmarked police car, which was then rammed by the Audi.
“It became apparent the Audi was ramming and smashing into the vehicle ahead of it and the police vehicle behind it,” she told the court.
When asked about the danger she perceived, she explained: “I realised in a matter of milliseconds what was happening, and I was aware I had to make decisions on what my next step would be, otherwise I was putting myself in danger, potentially being hit by a vehicle.”
HA10 recalled the chaotic scene: “There was an awful lot of crashing and smashing as you would expect of a collision. There was an incredibly clear scream. It was a standout memory without having to watch the body-worn video back. I absolutely thought that one of my colleagues had been possibly hit by the vehicle.
However, during cross-examination by prosecution barrister Louise Oakley, HA10 acknowledged that she was never personally at risk of being struck by the Audi. She also admitted that the “scream” she recalled had been attributed to the screeching sound of tyres.
Describing the moment Mr Kaba was fatally shot, HA10 said: “I remember a very clear and distinctive gunshot which was recognisable over and above all the other noise occurring at the time.”
After the shooting, HA10 administered first aid to Mr. Kaba, who later died from a gunshot wound to the head.
When asked by Patrick Gibbs KC, defending, about her assessment of the risk that night, HA10 said: “At the time, I was very concerned I was going to be hit by the Audi.” She described the entire situation as “an incredibly frightening, chaotic experience.”
The officer also told the court that although she did not know Blake well, he had always been “friendly, very calm, very knowledgeable, and very pleasant to be around,” adding that she never saw him angry or frustrated.
The trial continues.
