THE Metropolitan Police officer charged with murdering Chris Kaba was publicly named today after a judge lifted an anonymity order.
Martyn Blake, 40, shot the 24-year-old black man while he was in a car in Streatham, south London, on September 6 2022.
Mr Kaba had been followed by an unmarked police car with no lights or siren.
When he drove into a narrow residential street that was blocked by a marked patrol car, the officer shot him in the head through the windscreen.
Mr Blake was initially only identified as NX121, but several media organisations challenged the anonymity order in October.
At the time, lawyer Jude Bunting, representing the media, told the judge: “I have been unable to find any murder trial in any crown court in this country where the defendant has been anonymised.”
His identity was disclosed today following a ruling by Recorder of London Mark Lucraft KC, who concluded that revealing Mr Blake’s name, as is usual practice in criminal proceedings with adult defendants, did not present any substantial or imminent risk to his life or that of this family.
Deborah Coles, director of the Inquest charity, which is representing Mr Kaba’s family, insisted that “police cannot and should not be above the law.
“Accountability for police officers and forces involved in death, even where evidence of criminality and wrongdoing is identified, is extremely rare.
“In any other murder trial, the accused would be publicly named. This case is no different. We welcome today’s decision.”
Stand up to Racism co-convener Sabby Dhalu said: “After decades of struggle, a police officer is charged with murdering a black man.
“The decision to name Martyn Blake is correct.
“Police officers should not be above the law. As [Metropolitan Police Commissioner] Mark Rowley’s denial of the existence of institutional racism in response to the Casey report highlights, it will take a lot more than one trial to stop black deaths in police custody.”
Appearing at the Old Bailey today, Mr Blake spoke to confirm his name and date of birth and entered a not-guilty plea to the murder charge.
He is due to face trial on October 2.
