Police officer who shot Chris Kaba dead in London charged with murder

20 September 2023 , 09:02

1255 0

The police officer who shot Chris Kaba dead in September last year has been charged with murder, the Crown Prosecution Service have said.

The 24-year-old unarmed black man died after being struck in the head by a bullet fired by the officer after police followed the vehicle he was driving in an unmarked car with no lights or sirens for 15 minutes before he turned into a residential street in Streatham, south-west London. Expectant father Mr Kaba's car was boxed in by officers tailing him through Kirkstall Gardens on September 5 last year, following a high-speed chase. In the aftermath of his death, Mr Kaba's family also claimed a Rolex watch he was wearing at the time had gone missing.

The murder charge comes after an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The Met Police officer, who has not been named by the force for legal reasons, will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, the police watchdog confirmed.

Police officer who shot Chris Kaba dead in London charged with murder dqxikeidqkikdinv

The officer 'killed the whole family' as well as Chris Kaba, his father said (MyLondon/BPM)

A statement confirmed: "The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised a charge of murder for a Met firearms officer in relation to the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba in September 2022. The officer will attend Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 21 September.

"The charging decision was made by the CPS following a referral from the Independent Office for Police Conduct. The officer remains suspended from duty. Misconduct matters will be considered at the conclusion of the criminal proceedings."

Tragedy as 13-month-old boy dies after the stolen car he was in crashed

In a joint statement, the family of Mr Kaba said they "welcomed" the charging decision. They said: "Chris was so very loved by our family and all his friends. He had a bright future ahead of him, but his life was cut short. Our family and our wider community must see justice for Chris. Now we await the trial of the firearms officer without delay and hope and pray that justice will be served."

Chris Kaba's family have campaigned for justice since his death last year (PA)

An inquest at Inner South London Coroner's Court in October last year heard the father-to-be's Audi was blocked by a police car. There was 'contact' between the two vehicles before a marksman fired a single shot through the windscreen. The court heard the bullet hit Mr Kaba, who was not being treated as a suspect at the time, in the head. The vehicle had been linked by police to a firearms incident the previous day. When news of Mr Kaba's killing emerged it sparked outrage in the capital, prompting protests and demonstrations by campaigners.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Helen Millichap said: “We have fully supported the IOPC investigation as it has worked to establish the facts. “Today’s announcement is a significant and serious development. We must now allow the court process to run its course so it would not be appropriate for me to say more at this stage. “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this case.”

Mr Kaba died from a single gunshot wound last year (PA)

Tributes were paid to Mr Kaba, known to his friends as Mad Itch and was expecting his first child. The musician was a member of rap group 67, who were nominated for Best Newcomer at the MOBO Awards back in 2016. At the time of his death last year, the Met said: "The vehicle was stopped following tactical contact in Kirkstall Gardens, Streatham Hill. A police firearm was discharged. An occupant of the suspect vehicle - a man believed to be aged in his 20s, sustained a gunshot injury."

Last October, his family, who live in Wembley, north west London, marched to Downing Street as part of the United Friends and Families Campaign led by activist Marcia Rigg. In the letter, they demanded an urgent meeting with the Prime Minister to discuss the judicial process following state-related deaths.

Officers conduct a finger tip search in Streatham Hill, South London (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)

During his funeral in November, Chris' brother paid a touching tribute to him at an emotional church service attended by friends and family. He said: "People will understand my pain but won't understand how much I miss him because it's even unexplainable for me." He went on to say that he had been looking forward to doing "big things".

In November last year Mr Kaba's family claimed that the police watchdog had been ‘unable to find’ the watch he was wearing when he was shot dead. His cousin Jefferson Bosela claimed that family members noticed he was wearing the watch when he was shot after watching police footage of the incident.

Mr Bosela, a former teacher, said his cousin's mother and another son went on to request the watch from the IOPC. But he claimed two months after the shooting that the IOPC said they had been ‘unable to locate’ it. He said at the time: “How could his watch go missing? I’m disgusted and gutted."

Mr Kaba's cousin said friends and family campaigned to be shown the footage of his death and once they were able to view the video, had asked police for his belongings. Mr Bosela said then: “As soon as it happened, as soon as we saw the footage we said, ‘can we have his belongings.’ They said they’d give it to us, then afterwards they said they don't have the watch. It's a high-value watch. They said they don’t have it, they can't locate it. I'm shocked and taken aback. A spokesperson for the IOPC told the Mirror at the time: "We are discussing this matter privately with his family."

With regards to the fatal shooting, Mr Kaba's mother Helen told the BBC earlier this month: "We need a decision" and his father, Prosper added: "Not in one week, not in one month, we need it as soon as possible. 'If he (the officer) was a civilian, he would have been in jail the next day. He killed Chris, he killed the family as well. There is no life for us. Everyone is missing his smile, everyone is missing his laugh, everyone is missing his jokes. I feel so empty, I need answers."