GB News presenter Ben Leo has hit out at Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn for his "silence" on the Martyn Blake trial after the Met Police Officer was cleared of murdering Chris Kaba.
Kaba, 24, was shot dead in September 2022 by Blake during an armed vehicle stop in Streatham, as the officer believed there was a threat to the lives of his colleagues at the scene.
Delivering their verdict at the Old Bailey on Monday, Blake was acquitted of murdering Kaba. However, since the trial's conclusion, more information regarding Kaba's criminal past has come to light.
It has been confirmed by the CPS that Kaba was a member of an infamous gang, and had allegedly shot a man in both legs at the Oval Space nightclub in Hackney on August 30, 2022.
Ben Leo hit out at Independent MP Jeremy Corbyn's 'silence' following the acquittal of Met Police officer Martyn Blake
GB News / PA
Kaba died before being charged for the shooting, but was later named on the charge sheet for the trial. Three others involved in the 2022 incident were convicted and are in prison.
Reacting to the verdict, Ben Leo highlighted how those who had spoken out at the time of Kaba's death have remained "silent" following Blake's acquittal - directly calling out former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
In September 2022 Corbyn took to social media to demand "justice" for Kaba, posting: "We cannot live the pain felt by his family, but we can support them in demanding #JusticeForChrisKaba."
Hitting out at Corbyn, Ben fumed: "I wonder about the silence from these do-gooders who protested in London after the result yesterday and some years ago, people like Jeremy Corbyn who was chanting his name when he died.
Protests took place outside the Old Bailey following the verdict of Chris Kaba's trial
PA"Corbyn was demanding justice, but I haven't heard a word from them today."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
- Chris Kaba: Ex-Scotland Yard Detective calls for ‘public inquiry’ into CPS’s treatment of Martyn Blake: ‘He’s had two years of hell!’
- Met Police officer who shot Chris Kaba still faces being SACKED despite being cleared of murder
- Ex-police officer fumes over prosecution of marksman who shot Chris Kaba - 'Doing his duty'
Offering his criticisms of the CPS, Ben also claimed it was "beggar's belief" why Martyn Blake was named in the trial.
Ben explained: "I could understand that if Martyn Blake was found guilty of murder, his name would be released. But he was acquitted.
"Why was his name released? There's reports from earlier today that he is now a target. It just beggars belief as to why Martin Blake's name was ever released."
Echoing Ben's remarks, former Metropolitan Police detective Mike Neville told GB News that Blake has been put through "two years of hell", and called for a "public inquiry" into the CPS's treatment of the police officer.
Ben Leo was astounded by the lack of response from the 'do-gooders' who spoke out at the time of Kaba's death
GB News
Neville told GB News: "How can the Crown Prosecution Service make this decision?
"The fact that the jury took about three hours, and I imagine the decision was almost made and they thought, you know what, we've got to sit here for some time because it's just so obvious that this officer is not guilty.
"Sergeant Blake has gone through two years of hell, his family know there's a continuing threat to him, and I think there should be an inquiry into the CPS to make to see who made these decisions."