Chris Cava was shot and killed by armed police after the car he was driving was stopped and police surrounded him. His death sparked protests and outrage, as the fourth unarmed black or mixed-race man killed by police since 2005. But when a police officer was arrested on suspicion of murder, he too became furious, and some colleagues said they would no longer volunteer for armed police solidarity work.
Sergeant Martin Blake was swiftly acquitted this week, with the jury returning a verdict within hours of finishing the case. Their conclusions reignited debate about whether police officers have adequate legal protection. The Guardian's crime correspondent Vikram Doddexplains why the police officer was so disappointed. “Firearms officers are in an impossible position, and in their own eyes, they should be treated as heroes protecting the public,” he says. However, they feel that they are being treated like ordinary criminals.
However, Kaba's family is also deeply unhappy. They say they do not feel justice was served, and the acquittal has sparked further protests. Helen Pitt Hear why this incident sparked such heated debate and what will happen next.
Photo: Family Handout/PA
