There has been extensive media coverage following the not guilty verdict in the case of Martyn Blake, the police officer involved in the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba.
Firstly, I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the family of Chris Kaba. The grief and pain they must have experienced in the wake of such a tragic loss is unimaginable.
It is important to acknowledge that the Metropolitan Police are often placed in situations where they must make split-second decisions, and regrettably, this can sometimes result in the loss of life.
Police officers are trained to exhaust all alternatives before resorting to firearms, which includes issuing necessary warnings and attempts to de-escalate the situation.
In this particular case, it was apparent that the victim, Chris Kaba, was not surrendering peacefully and posed a continued threat, leaving the police with no other option but to use deadly force. The decision was one they did not take lightly.
While the family understandably feels a sense of injustice following the not guilty verdict, the jury’s decision came after careful consideration of the facts presented during the trial.
My question is: what form of justice would have felt appropriate for the family in this tragic scenario?
The jury deliberated for three hours before reaching their decision, and as difficult as it may be, it is a verdict we must respect and accept.