Shooting of Chris Kaba

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Chris Kaba, 24 years old and a member of the drill rap group 67, was shot dead by police in Streatham Hill, London, England, on 5 September 2022.[1] On the day of the shooting, an unmarked vehicle followed the car Kaba was driving (which had been linked to a firearms incident the previous day) until it met a police road block. Armed police who had been in a marked car approached on foot. Witnesses said that Kaba refused to leave the car and drove it into one of the police cars. One of the armed officers fired a single round at Kaba through the car windscreen. He was taken to hospital but died of his injuries the following day. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) then began an investigation into the shooting.

In September 2023, a police officer aged 40 was charged with Kaba's murder; the trial is expected to begin in October 2024.

Background[edit]

Kaba had been charged in 2018 with possessing an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence,[2] in relation to an incident on 30 December 2017.[3] He was found guilty at Snaresbrook Crown Court in January 2019, and sentenced to four years in a Young Offenders Institute.[3] He was released in 2021.[3]

In the months following his death, six men were charged with conspiring with Kaba to commit murder and grievous bodily harm; the charges relate to a shooting which took place in Tower Hamlets on 30 August 2022, days before Kaba's death.[4][5]

Kaba was a member of 67, a Brixton Hill-based drill rap group which one of its members says has been called a criminal gang by the police.[6][7] He was known by his stagename Madix or Mad Itch.[8]

Shooting[edit]

According to the IOPC, Kaba was driving an Audi Q8 which was followed by an unmarked police car occupied by armed officers. The IOPC say that the Audi was believed to have been linked to a "firearms incident" the day before and that the police car following did not activate their lights or sirens.[9]

At around 10:07pm, Kaba made a left turn from New Park Road onto Kirkstall Gardens.[9] A marked armed response vehicle was waiting on this road.[9] Police vehicles were said by witnesses to have boxed the car in, and witnesses claimed that Kaba ignored repeated orders to get out of the vehicle, and was trying to ram the Audi through the roadblock.[10] Armed officers exited their vehicles then approached the Audi on foot.[9] According to the IOPC, a police officer fired a single round at Kaba through the car's windscreen, striking him.[9][10] He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died of his injuries just after 12:00 am the following day.[11]

According to the IOPC, "no non-police firearms were found" either in the car or at the scene. Kaba's family called for a "homicide investigation" into his death and for information about whether any weapons were found.[12]

Reaction[edit]

Lee Lawrence (left - whose mother was shot by the police inside their own home in 1985) consoles Chris Kaba's father and mother outside New Scotland Yard in central London.

Members of his family said that he would not have been shot dead if he were not black. Kaba's cousin said: "I've put it out there he wasn't perfect… but regardless of that nobody deserves to be killed by the police unless there is an imminent or direct threat to the public."[12] Charity group Inquest released a statement which read "dad-to-be Chris’ loved ones said they are worried his life was cut short due to his skin colour."[13]

In response to the shooting, about 40 protestors gathered outside Brixton police station on 8 September 2022, demanding justice for Kaba's death.[14] Further protests took place outside New Scotland Yard in which over 300 people, including former Leader of the Opposition Jeremy Corbyn, attended.[15][16] Journalist Sarah-Jane Mee mistook the protest for the gathering of people marking the death of the Queen; Sky News later issued an apology regarding this.[17]

On 21 September the family of the deceased viewed the police body-worn camera footage of the incident. Afterwards, Kaba's cousin said that they now wanted justice, but would take a step back from campaigning.[18]

Prosecution[edit]

On 20 September 2023, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that it had authorised the charging of a Metropolitan Police ("Met") officer with murder in relation to the death.[19] The police officer, "NX121", appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court on the morning of 21 September, and then at the Old Bailey in the afternoon of the same day.[20][21] He was granted bail with the conditions that he "lives at a named address, surrenders his passport and does not apply for international travel documents".[22]

In response to the charge, by the morning of 25 September up to 300 of the more than 2,500 Metropolitan Police officers authorised to carry firearms had returned their permits to do so over concerns about the implication of the decision to prosecute. By the afternoon of the same day, the Met said many of the officers had resumed their armed duties.[23]

A plea and trial preparation hearing was to take place on 1 December 2023; a preliminary date for the trial to begin has been set for 9 September 2024.[20] Having originally granted anonymity, Judge Mark Lucraft ruled that "NX121" would be named on 1 March 2024.[24] On 8 March, the police officer's name was confirmed, he was 40 years old.

On 8 March 2024, the police officer appeared at the Old Bailey to enter his plea of not guilty, during which he confirmed his name.[25] He was once more granted bail until the commencement of his trial on 2 October 2024.[25][26]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Chris Kaba: Police shooting of unarmed man treated as homicide". BBC News. 9 September 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  2. ^ "Man, 19, charged with Canning Town shooting". Newham Recorder. 13 February 2018. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Evans, Martin (8 September 2022). "Drill rapper shot dead by police had been jailed for firearms offence". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  4. ^ Pennink, Emily (21 April 2023). "Men in court over alleged murder plot with late Chris Kaba". The Independent. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  5. ^ "Chris Kaba: Men accused of murder plot with Met shooting victim". BBC News. 21 April 2023. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  6. ^ France, Anthony; Kirk, Tristan (24 September 2022). "Chris Kaba: Inside story of shooting that shocked London". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  7. ^ Brosnan, Laura (16 June 2016). "Meet 67, The Rawest Crew In UK Rap". Complex UK. Retrieved 12 March 2024. The police label us a gang, but we label ourselves a family and a brand.
  8. ^ "Chris Kaba: Met Police acknowledges 'lasting impact' of fatal shooting". BBC News. 7 September 2022. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  9. ^ a b c d e "Statement read out at opening of inquest into the death of Chris Kaba | Independent Office for Police Conduct". 4 October 2022. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  10. ^ a b Evans, Martin; Perkins, Liz (7 September 2022). "Police shoot dead drill rapper Chris Kaba after car chase in south London". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  11. ^ McCann, Sarah (7 September 2022). "Chris Kaba: who was 67 rapper Madix shot dead by police in Streatham Hill?". NationalWorld. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  12. ^ a b "Chris Kaba: No firearm found at scene of fatal police shooting". BBC News. 7 September 2022. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  13. ^ "Streatham police shooting: Family of Chris Kaba demand criminal investigation". Inquest. 7 September 2022. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  14. ^ "Protesters call for 'justice' for Chris Kaba outside London police station". 8 September 2022. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  15. ^ Keogh, Glen (17 September 2022). "Chris Kaba shooting: Jeremy Corbyn joins protest against 'inherently racist' police". The Times. Archived from the original on 1 October 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  16. ^ "'Chris Kaba. Say his name!' Hundreds protest after black man is shot dead by police". Sky News. 17 September 2022. Archived from the original on 5 June 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  17. ^ "Sky News apologises for report mistaking protest for royal crowds". The Guardian. 11 September 2022. Archived from the original on 8 June 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  18. ^ "Chris Kaba family views police body-cam footage". BBC News. 21 September 2022. Archived from the original on 23 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  19. ^ Warren, Jess (20 September 2023). "Chris Kaba: Met Police officer to be charged with murder". BBC News. Archived from the original on 20 September 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  20. ^ a b "Chris Kaba: Met Police officer charged with murder granted bail". BBC News. 21 September 2023. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  21. ^ "Met officer appears in court charged with murder of Chris Kaba". Mynewsdesk. Metropolitan Police. 21 September 2023. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  22. ^ "Met Police officer charged Chris Kaba murder released on bail". ITV News. 21 September 2023. Archived from the original on 21 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2023.
  23. ^ Mackintosh, Thomas; Symonds, Tom (25 September 2023). "Chris Kaba: Army stood down as enough Met Police armed officers return to duty". BBC News. Archived from the original on 25 September 2023. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  24. ^ "Chris Kaba: Firearms officer charged with murder to be named in March". BBC News. 26 January 2024. Retrieved 7 February 2024.
  25. ^ a b "Chris Kaba shooting: Martyn Blake named as murder-accused police officer". BBC News. 8 March 2024. Archived from the original on 8 March 2024. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
  26. ^ "Met Police officer charged with Chris Kaba murder named for the first time". Sky News. Retrieved 8 March 2024.
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