Cop cleared of murdering Chris Kaba will face misconduct probe despite jury taking just 16 mins to find him not guilty
THE Met cop who was cleared of murder over the shooting of Chris Kaba will face gross misconduct proceedings, according to a police watchdog.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) have decided to pursue the misconduct probe against Martyn Blake, 41, after the gangster was shot dead with a single bullet.
Blake was suspended for over two years after shooting Kaba in the head through the windscreen of the gangster’s Audi.
Kaba, linked to two shootings in six days, was trying to ram his way free from a police stop.
Blake told jurors he opened fire because he feared for the lives of his colleagues.
Now, the police officer been told he must appear before a hearing accused of gross misconduct following a review of the case by the IOPC.
The probe comes despite an Old Bailey jury taking just sixteen minutes to clear the married dad-of-two of murder.
Kaba, 24, was unmasked as a feared gangster linked to two shootings in the six days leading up to his death in September 2022.
In a statement today, IOPC director Amanda Rowe said: "We understand the impact this decision will have on Chris Kaba's family and Sergeant Blake and acknowledge the significant public interest in this case, particularly among our Black communities, firearms officers and the wider policing community.
"This is a decision we have taken based on examining all the evidence, views of all parties and by applying the thresholds set out in legislation and guidance which govern our work.
"The legal test for deciding whether there is a case to answer is low - is there sufficient evidence upon which, on the balance of probabilities, a disciplinary panel could make a finding of misconduct.
"This has been met and therefore we need to follow the legal process.
"We appreciate that the Home Office is carrying out a review of the legal test for the use of force in misconduct cases, however, we must apply the law as it currently stands."
If the hearing finds he committed gross misconduct he could face the sack.
On the night Kaba died, police began following the Audi Q8 that he was driving because it had been used as a getaway car in a shooting in Brixton, south London, the night before.
They did not know who was driving the car at the time, although it later emerged Kaba was a core member of one of London's most dangerous street gangs and was accused of being involved in two shootings in the week before he died.
Dozens of Metropolitan Police armed officers downed tools in outrage when Blake was charged with murder and the army was put on stand-by to plug the gap.
The cop was cleared after a trial at the Old Bailey in October last year and questions were raised as to whether he should ever have been charged with murder.
The court also heard how a £10,000 reward was issued against Sgt Blake by Kaba’s criminal associates.
Read More on The Sun
Blake was publicly named during his trial as is standard practice, but restrictions remain in place banning the publication of his address or any description or image of him.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is bringing in legal changes that will give police marksmen accused of murder the right to anonymity up to the point of conviction
