'Officers are unhappy this trial went ahead'

Met chief slams Blake charge over Kaba death

- Paul Jeeves and Robert Kellaway

POLICE colleagues slammed the decision to charge Sergeant Martyn Blake with the murder of Chris Kaba after the firearms officer was cleared in court yesterday.

Sgt Blake, 40, fatally shot 24-year-old Mr Kaba as the drill rapper attempted to evade arrest by ramming an Audi Q8 into surrounding vehicles.

Furious colleagues claimed Sgt Blake had "just been doing his job" and had saved colleagues from potential serious injury or even death.

When Sgt Blake was charged hundreds of armed officers across Britain threatened to down their weapons in protest.

Last night, one told the Daily Express: "There is a great deal of discontent among firearms officers that this prosecution went forward. Many feel it was a show trial and that Martyn Blake was prosecuted for political reasons and not in the interests of justice.

"Firearms officers are highly trained and hope never to have to fire a weapon in anger. They feel that if they are involved in an incident that ends in the death or injury of a suspect they cannot rely on being supported."