Man denies murdering Met sergeant in shooting at police station
A young man has denied murdering a police sergeant - who was formerly a protection officer to Princess Diana - in a shooting at a station in South London.
Louis De Zoysa, from Banstead, Surrey, has today denied the murder of Met Police custody sergeant Matthew Ratana during a plea hearing at Northampton Crown Court.
The 25-year-old entered his not guilty plea via a video-link to a hospital and will now face trial at the same court on June 6.
Sgt Ratana, aged 54, died after suffering gunshot wounds at Croydon custody centre on September 25 2020.
De Zoysa, who appeared on the video-link in a wheelchair and with his right arm in a sling, was assisted by an intermediary and entered his plea by holding up a whiteboard with 'not guilty' written on it.
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Matthew Ratana was preparing to retire when he died (SWNS)
Sgt Matt Ratana receiving his Long Service and Good Conduct Medal from Commissioner Cressida Dick in May 2017 (SWNS)Sgt Ratana was preparing for retirement when he died.
Following the shooting, he was taken to St George's Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
De Zoysa received a life-threatening injury during the incident but survived after being treated by officers and London Ambulance staff.
A court sketch of de Zoysa in a hospital bed recovering from his injuries (PA)Sgt Ratana was originally from New Zealand and joined the Met in 1991. He was previously a protection officer to Princess Diana, the Queen Mother and ex-Prime Minister John Major.
The officer, who lived in Worthing, West Sussex, and was head coach for East Grinstead Rugby Club, was 300 yards from an IRA bomb that went off outside 10 Downing Street in 1992.
Following Sgt Ratana's death, his partner Su Bushby described him as a "gentle giant".
Sgt Matt Ratana and his partner Su Bushby (SWNS)In a tribute, she said: "Matt was my partner, friend, confidant, support and soul mate.
"He will be greatly missed but never forgotten. Matt will always be in my head and in my heart."
Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick paid tribute to Sergeant Ratana as an "extraordinary person" who was "very good at his job".
She said: "If some good can come out of this terrible incident in which we have had one of our officers murdered, it would be that more people can understand a little bit about the challenges of police work and to see us police as who we are - human beings, going to work to help people, to support people and to protect people.
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"Matt was the epitome of that."
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