Chris Kaba ‘core member’ of one of London’s most dangerous gangs
Martyn Blake's defence barrister, Patrick Gibbs KC, said Chris Kaba was a core member of the 67 gang, "the most dangerous gang in south London", as ITV News' Neil Connery explains
Chris Kaba was a “core member” of one of London’s most dangerous gangs and was allegedly involved in two shootings less than a week before he was killed by a police marksman.
Reporting restrictions were lifted on Tuesday after Metropolitan Police firearms officer Sergeant Martyn Blake was cleared of Mr Kaba’s murder on Monday.
On September 5, an unarmed Mr Kaba was shot in the head by Mr Blake through a car windshield.
Neither the 24-year-old rapper’s gang history nor criminal record was revealed in the trial after a senior judge ruled it had no relevance to the issues for jurors to decide.
Mr Blake's defence barrister, Patrick Gibbs KC, said Mr Kaba was a core member of the 67 gang.
"It’s the most dangerous gang in south London," he said.
Mr Kaba's mother requested her son's activities remain secret until after an inquest, which could have taken years, but a senior judge rejected the request.
Kaba's alleged involvement with the south London 67 gang
Kaba was said to be in the 67 gang, which took its name from the telephone code for Brixton Hill in south London from which many of its members are from.
The gang's arch-rival was the 17 gang from near the Wandsworth Road area.
It was revealed the Audi Q8 Kaba was driving when he was shot was linked to three previous gun incidents in 2022.
May 2022, shooting in Bromley, South London
The first shotgun incident to which the Audi was linked happened on May 22, 2022, in Bromley, South London. The case was still outstanding when Mr Kaba was killed.
August 30, 2022, club shooting in Hackney, North London
Mr Kaba had targeted a rival to his “67 gang” at the Oval Space club in Hackney, north London, an earlier Old Bailey trial had heard.
He and other 67 associates had been at a party in the nightclub when he spotted 25-year-old Brandon Malutshi who was associated with the rival “17 gang”.
Mr Kaba was said to be “moving mad” before he produced a handgun and shot at Mr Malutshi, causing panic on the dancefloor.
Wearing a grey tracksuit, he then pursued the victim into the street brandishing the handgun and shooting as Mr Malutshi tried to flee, it was alleged.
A number of shots were fired before Mr Malutshi collapsed having suffered gunshot wounds to both legs.
He was taken to hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
Mr Kaba was identified on CCTV footage of the shooting taken from inside and outside the club.
The gun, which was not recovered, had been smuggled into the club by Marcus Pottinger, who had previously worked there and was able to avoid security checks.
Mr Kaba had travelled to Hackney in the Audi but made his getaway in a Range Rover.
The Audi was driven away by Shemiah Bell who parked it outside his home for Mr Kaba to pick up in the morning.
Following an earlier trial at the Old Bailey, Pottinger, 31, and Bell, 32, were found guilty of wounding with intent.
The pair along with Connel Bamgboye, 29, were found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.
In April, Judge Simon Mayo KC jailed Bell for ten years, Pottinger for nine years and Bamgboye for five years and six months.
Even though Mr Kaba was named on the charges and in the trial as a co-conspirator, his identity could not be reported until the conclusion of Mr Blake’s trial.
September 4, 2022, shooting in Brixton, South London
The night before Mr Kaba was fatally shot, his Audi had been involved in a shooting outside a primary school in Brixton.
Three hooded figures had targeted two unidentified victims and a shotgun was discharged before they made off in the Audi and another vehicle.
The shotgun was allegedly the same one used in the May 2022 shooting in Bromley.
No suspects, shotgun or victims had been found at the time the same Audi was spotted and followed by armed police on September 5.
After Mr Kaba was shot dead, a balaclava was found in his pocket and gunshot residue on his sleeve.
In a trial barrister, Mr Gibbs said: “The Crown says, there is no evidence Kaba was one of the gunmen on September 4.
“In my submission, there is strong evidence suggesting that he was, quite apart from his connection with the Audi on 30th (August) and on the night in question on 5th (September).”
Body-worn camera footage shows the moment Chris Kaba was fatally shot by Martyn Blake
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Kaba's past convictions
Mr Kaba and Connel Bamgboye were convicted in 2015 for their part in a nine-man fight.
Bamgboye was found guilty in the August 2022 shooting.
In August 2020, Mr Kaba was jailed for five months for the possession of a knife and failing to stop.
Before that, he served a four-year prison term for possession of an imitation firearm for which he was convicted in December 2017.
An application for a gang order against Mr Kaba was also underway at the time of his death, the court was told.
There are questions about whether firearm officers should receive more "support" to perform their job.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said criminal prosecutions brought against officers for actions in the line of duty were “extremely rare” and “it is crucial that they are able to use their powers with legal certainty and clarity”.
Tory leadership candidate Robert Jenrick said there should be a “high bar” for firearms officers to be prosecuted.
Martyn Blake, 40, stood trial at the Old Bailey for shooting 24-year-old Kaba in Streatham in September 2022, through the windscreen of his car.
Mr Kaba’s family said they too were left devastated at the verdict and pledged to continue fighting for justice for their son.
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