Prisoner accused of shooting cop 'says he felt sad police officer was dead'
A man accused of murdering a Metropolitan Police custody sergeant said in court today that he felt "sad" the officer had died.
Louis De Zoysa is on trial for the murder of Sergeant Matt Ratana, 54, who was gunned down at the centre in Croydon, south London, on September 25, 2020.
De Zoysa, 25, agreed that the CCTV footage showed him firing a gun at Sgt Ratana and that the prosecution say he murdered him.
Asked what murder meant, De Zoysa said: “Kill.”
Imran Khan KC, defending, asked: “Are you guilty of murder, Louis?”
Man in 30s dies after being stabbed in park sparking police probe
De Zoysa told his barrister “no” but later said he did not know what “guilty” meant.
Sergeant Matt Ratana was gunned four times at the custody centre (PA)He went on to deny wanting or meaning to kill Sgt Ratana or cause him “really serious harm”.
De Zoysa's evidence began today and the young man, sat in a wheelchair in the well of the court with a small whiteboard and marker on the desk in front of him, promised to tell the truth in a modified oath.
He confirmed his name verbally and confirmed his date of birth and age using the whiteboard.
The prosecution alleges De Zoysa, who denies murder, “pulled the trigger on purpose four times” while he was handcuffed in a holding room at the custody centre, the first and second shots hitting Sgt Ratana, the third hitting the wall during a struggle with officers, and a fourth hitting De Zoysa himself.
The jury heard De Zoysa will respond to simple questions while giving evidence because of communication difficulties experienced as a result of suffering brain damage from a gunshot wound.
Mr Justice Johnson told the jury: "The arrangements for the defendant to give evidence depart from what would ordinarily happen."
De Zoysa is pictured in a police van after his arrest on September 25, 2020 (PA)The prosecution said it "will not fully put their case" to him because of his "condition".
De Zoysa had been arrested in Norbury, south London, during the early hours of September 25, 2020, after a stop and search by officers found he had cannabis and seven rounds of ammunition.
Officers did not know De Zoysa, of Banstead, Surrey, had a gun until it was used to shoot Sgt Ratana.
Russian model killed after calling Putin a 'psychopath' was strangled by her ex
Jurors have been told they will have to consider whether De Zoysa deliberately fired the revolver and the question of diminished responsibility.
A court sketch by Elizabeth Cook shows Louis De Zoysa at Northampton Crown Court (PA)Imran Khan KC, defending, previously told the jury that the defendant was suffering an autistic meltdown at the time of the shooting
De Zoysa said he was bullied at school and hit with chains because he was "tiny" and an "easy target."
He said the bullies would sing a song called 'Louis Lu' and he would run away. He claimed the bullying made him "hyperventilate" because of his autism.
De Zoysa said he did not like coming people coming into his bedroom and touching his things as a child due to his autism. He said he would "punch chair" and "punch walls" when he got stressed.
The trial continues.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
