Thanks to the 12 good and true who were not fooled over Kaba - but now Sergeant Blake faces more proceedings - Peter Bleksley
"Chris Kaba sat at the dead-centre of the 67 Gang’s grotesque criminality," says Peter Bleksley
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Like a core sits at the very heart of an apple, Chris Kaba sat at the dead-centre of the 67 Gang’s grotesque criminality. His life of crime started at a young age, being convicted of grievous bodily harm with intent when he was only 13. A knife had been used on that occasion.
When he reached 17, he collected another conviction, for affray and possession of an offensive weapon. This time it was a belt.
In 2017 at the age of 19, he was jailed for four years for possessing an imitation firearm, and in August 2020 he was given a five-month sentence for failing to stop his vehicle for the police, and yet again - possession of a knife.
If 40-year-old armed police sergeant Martyn Blake had not shot and killed Kaba on September 5, 2022, in Streatham, south London, then Kaba would have later stood trial at The Old Bailey, for the attempted murder of a man who Kaba shot twice, once on a crammed nightclub dancefloor, and then again on the street outside that popular venue.
None of this information was given to the jury of nine men and three women who tried Sergeant Blake for murder over the past couple of weeks.
The judge had ruled that Kaba’s appalling criminal record was not relevant, and that Blake could essentially be judged on the evidence of that fateful night alone. I am only able to bring this information to you now, because the same judge lifted reporting restrictions earlier today.
It would appear that the learned judge made the right decision, and that the jury were not remotely convinced by the pathetic evidence presented by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) led prosecution, because it took them less than three hours to reach their unanimous not guilty verdict.
It took a year for the Independent Office of Police Conduct (IOPC) to conclude their investigation into Kaba’s shooting, and for the CPS to make the decision to charge Sergeant Blake.
This highly trained, incredibly fit and dedicated police officer then had to spend another arduous year waiting for his trial to come around. Two years of torment, two years of uncertainty for this officer and his family.
Only last week the Director General of the IOPC, Rachel Watson, admitted that the organisation is far too slow in many areas of its operations, and this case clearly shows that. We ask our courageous armed police officers to face the most dangerous criminals in the land, often while we sleep soundly in our beds.
They take weapons off the streets and dare to tread where very few would ever venture. They get paid no extra money, and don’t get any more holiday leave, so on those rare occasions that they do pull the trigger, the least they deserve is prompt, professional and truly impartial investigations and decisions.
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Last night, foolishly misguided and naïve souls held their placards, and chanted their insipid nonsense, pathetically claiming that justice had not been served, alongside Kaba family members who would still have you believe that ‘their Chris’, was a sweet and God-fearing boy.
Certain television and radio presenters could barely disguise their disappointment at the not guilty verdict. Thank goodness we now know different, and endless thanks to the twelve people good and true who were not fooled for a moment by a persecution, apologies, prosecution, that simply should never have been brought.
The IOPC will now consider if Sergeant Blake should face any disciplinary proceedings. Anything other than a resounding ‘No’, might just result in armed police officers handing in their authorisations and laying down their weapons once again.
I would never condone such action, but if armed cops do choose to do this, then I suggest that they lay their weapons down on the front step of 10 Downing Street, with a press photographer at the ready.
That image would travel around the world in seconds and would certainly get their point across very effectively. Finally, please forgive me while I address Martyn Blake: "Thank you Sarge for your fearless work, I wish you and your loved ones all the very best for the future."