James O'Brien discusses Chris Kaba's death as officer who shot him cleared of murder | LBC



James O’Brien discusses Met Police marksman, Martyn Blake, being cleared of the murder of Chris Kaba by a jury.

It’s been revealed that Kaba was a “core member” of one of London’s most dangerous gangs and was accused of being involved in two shootings in less than a week before he was killed by a police marksman.

Prosecutors also say Kaba was the gunman in a Hackney nightclub shooting that took place just days before he was killed.

Footage shared by the Crown Prosecution Service after reporting restrictions were lifted by the courts following Blake’s acquittal shows a man, thought to be Kaba, stalking his rival across the Oval Space nightclub in Cambridge Heath with a gun.

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47 thoughts on “James O'Brien discusses Chris Kaba's death as officer who shot him cleared of murder | LBC”

  1. This James guy is crazy…. that officer spent two years of his life hanging in the balance for doing his job…. who would you get to protect society if you drag officers through the mud, have a price on his head, his family are in danger because of you and your news colleagues…. his poor family James, literally dragged through the courts with him, your argument is scary in 2024

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  2. The names of those making the decisions to bring this case to trial need to be revealed both in the CPS and IOPC. They should also publicly explain the exact reasoning behind their decisions. They need to regain public trust in the system or continue with the unacceptable situation of public opinion being at odds with the criminal justice system.

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  3. The fact is it should have been scrutinised before being bought to court, video evidence clearly showed that Kaba reversed backwards and forwards, so they spent millions to deliberate and come to a conclusion in 3 hours that there was no crime.
    You cant just run outside and say ow that man tried to run me over, police turn up and take it to court, no they get evidence from others and then realise there is no case dismissed.
    I think he went to court so they could be seen to appease people that would have potentially gone out and rioted

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  4. You knew that the case stank, after a desicion was bought after 3 hours, the CPC had to justify bringing it to court, and the rest of the armed police handed their firearm permits in.
    And the family didnt want the truth of Kabas history being bought out, but it had to be otherwise they would have all gone out and burnt half of London down and gone out and stole phones and trainers.

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  5. Much like the Mark Duggan shooting when everyone went out and rioted and burnt shops down, he was alleged to be a wonderful family man shot in cold blood while unarmed, except he was a known gang member and was armed the police knew he was because they were following the taxi he was in when he stopped and picked up a shoe box containing a gun.

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  6. The reason it should not have gone to trial is because the officer and his family shouldn't have been put through that. And also the name of the officer is now public and there could be repercussions for him and his family.

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  7. Strange society we live in now, nobody is held responsible for thier actions, some daft expert on the radio was claiming the evidence of his gang membership was only released after the case to devalue Kaba, no he devalued himself, of course a gang member that terrorises society has less value than someone whos law abiding.
    And these social workers in the area claiming ow this has divided people in the area between locals and police, what about the community that Kaba terrorised.
    Someone said well people do strange things when in fear, yes he choose to be in a gang and by doing that had rivals, if you get in a boxing ring your going to get thumped.
    Being shot is an occupational hazard of being in a gang.

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  8. Now, now, less of the disingenuous concern about the notion of 'sides'. You all love 'sides', sides create rivalry, rivalry creates debate, debate, for some, creates a nice lucrative career.
    The revelation that the man was not all that he was built up to be, or more than he was described as being, destroyed the foundations already built by one 'side'. Their verdict was in before the jury verdict came out. That's the shock. Some commentators are realising that they mouthed a 'verdict' long before a trial. Kangaroo courts of 'public opinion' are perhaps inescapably Human but they aren't justice.

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  9. This was a waste of of tax payers time and money. It didn’t need to go to court. The policeman was given minimal help and has is life destroyed for doing what he was trained to do. James you couldn’t see it clearly if you tryed. Please get that help you need mate.

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  10. Going to trial maybe open to discussion, what isn’t open to discussion or debate is to release the officer’s name prior to the jury’s decision. This is plain stupidity and malicious negligence. Whoever made that decision should also be named. Let him justify that outrageous and shameful decision.
    I wouldn’t blame the entire body of armed officers if they resigned their ticket with immediate effect. Nor would anyone else in this country.

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  11. I agree that the case should have been tried, but, as others have said, it's awful to name the acquitted officer – what on earth was the judge thinking??
    I don't think it's fair to call it a 'failed' prosecution, the CPS rules are that a trial goes ahead when the CPS lawyers think a conviction is more likely than not, so even when prosecutions are presented superbly acquittals are bound to happen, of course absolutely rightly. If people were only prosecuted when the CPS considers a conviction to be a certain result, many more guilty people would escape justice by not being prosecuted at all than do already.

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  12. The CPS Threshold test – 'The CPS will only prosecute cases when they are sure of the defendant's guilt, supported by strong, admissible evidence. If a case fails the evidential test, the prosecution does not proceed. This ensures that only cases with a realistic chance of conviction go to court'. The CPS would have had witness statements from everyone at the scene. Their Lawyers would have read all the evidence prior to making the charging decision, so why did this case go to trial ? Nobody should ever face a court trial just to appease others.

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  13. Politicised CPS is why it went to court
    However aside from and to deal with the incident I say: if an armed police officer orders you to do something like “STOP” and you choose not to follow those order(s) then you should expect to be be shot that’s why they armed to provide lethal force and use it when required
    It’s really not that difficult

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  14. His mother said he was an aspiring architect… this was a ckmplete lie why did she not tell the truth that he was a violent gang member. She could have wrongly influenced the jury and thus should be charged with peverting the course of justice. Who lets there child become a gang member at 13. Take some responsibility and admit you were a bad parent

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  15. I was going to create a screen name and use a Police helmet as my avatar. The screen name would have been called 'Sgt Martin Blake' and I was going to comment 'Just busted case init, dont like it when it is the other way around do ya? LOL'. However, I just can't be bothered.

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  16. By taking him to court in the uk now means you have some guilt. So now that policeman has to live with it. Hope he gets full pay and pension for the rest of his life and let him have a life outside the police force.

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  17. So it took 2 1/2 hours for their wasting of time to prosecute on no evidence was failed as it was close to wasting police time
    If the family are angry that their son was killed in self defence and the j stututuinskjy anti senituc Labour Party had Kim Johnson Corbyn Diane Abbott lying that the police were found to have done what they should if find
    It wasn’t a race crime
    If they think it’s a miscarriage of justice they are saying it with no facts

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  18. " What should have happened differently? " James O'Brien asks
    Martyn Blake should not have been named. I get the arguments that the case should have been investigated, and even that there's an argument that it should have gone to trial to ensure justice is not only done but seen to be done. However, there are many examples where defendants have their identities protected. And the reason for that is despite Blake being acquitted, as O'Brien himself has said, there are many people out there who despite that acquittal are still convinced of his guilt – despite all the evidence. And because members of that dangerous gang also know of the officer's identity, which puts Blake's life at risk.

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  19. So the officer now is at risk because he done his job? He should be able to sue, his name should NEVER have been released. It beggars belief the incompetence. He wasn't shot because of his skin colour, his was shot because he weaponised his car, a dangerous individual, I really find it hard to have any sympathy for him

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