Met Police officer charged Chris Kaba murder released on bail

A firearms officer, who will not be named, is accused of killing Chris Kaba, 24, in a fatal shooting, ITV News Correspondent Geraint Vincent reports from the Old Bailey

A Metropolitan Police officer charged with the murder of Chris Kaba has been released on bail after being remanded in custody at the Old Bailey on Thursday afternoon.

Mr Kaba, 24, died when he was shot through the windscreen of a car in Streatham Hill, south-east London, on September 6 last year.

The officer, who has only been identified as NX121, after an anonymity order was granted earlier on September 21, was brought to Westminster Magistrates' Court and was identified by his lawyer Patrick Hill.

As prosecutor Tom Little KC detailed how the case would progress, members of the public gallery - which included Chris Kaba's parents and other relatives - could be heard crying, with some leaving the court.

At the Old Bailey on Thursday afternoon, the officer answered “yes” when asked by the court clerk if he is NX121, and passed a piece of paper to court staff with his date of birth on it.

Recorder of London Mark Lucraft KC told the marksman that a plea and trial preparation hearing will be listed for December 1, with a possible trial date of September 9 next year.

A hearing will take place at the same court on Friday next week to discuss a legal order that bans the identification of the officer.

NX121 was released on bail on the condition that he lives at a named address, surrenders his passport and does not apply for international travel documents.

In the moments before the shooting, Mr Kaba had driven into Kirkstall Gardens and collided with a marked police car.

The officer allegedly fired one shot and hit Mr Kaba in the head.

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