22 September 2023 , 08:43
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The Met police officer charged with murdering Chris Kaba has been granted anonymity by a court order - meaning his identity cannot be made public.
The unnamed officer, referred to only as NX121, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court before being released on bail. He spoke only to confirm that he was 'NX121' and, instead of saying his address aloud, handed a note of his date of birth to the judge. An anonymity order was granted, meaning he cannot be named at this stage.
The officer is accused of killing unarmed 24-year-old rapper Mr Kaba last September. The dad-to-be was shot in the head by the anonymised firearms officer through the windscreen of his car after being followed by an unmarked police car.
Dad-to-be Chris Kaba was shot dead last September (PA)District Judge Nina Tempia granted an order for anonymity, meaning he cannot be named at this stage. She added: “There will be a direction that nothing is to be reported to identify the defendant and that includes any description of the defendant.” Judge Lucraft also set a trial date for the officer in September next year, and told him he would allow him to go on a pre-booked holiday in the jurisdiction of England and Wales. Tom Little KC, prosecuting, told the hearing at the Old Bailey NX121 had shot Mr Kaba just as the car stopped.
Officers conduct a finger tip search at the scene in Streatham Hill (Adam Gerrard / Daily Mirror)He said: "The offence concerns the evening of September 5 2022 and the shooting of Chris Kaba - just at the point that his vehicle had become stationary. The investigation is well advanced in comparison to other homicide cases." Judge Lucraft KC granted the anonymised officer bail and set a provisional trial date for September 9 next year.
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He also asked that reports on the officer's mental health be prepared. The officer's lawyer, Patrick Hill, also brought up a 'pre-booked holiday' within the jurisdiction of his bail. Judge Lucraft said: "I would ask that the details be set out in a direction. "I will simply endorse it once the court approves it.
Chris's cousin Jefferson Bosela reads a statement outside Inner South London Coroner's Court last October (PA)"The next hearing of the case will be the plea and trial preparation hearing on December 1. The defendant will be expected to be here for that hearing." Judge Lucraft added that Officer NX121 was not required to attend court for the discussion over his anonymity next Friday. He told him: "NX121; I have made directions for the progress of this case.
"The next date the court will expect you here is for the plea and trial preparation hearing. I have granted you bail. Because you are charged with murder, there are also statutory reports on your mental health [which need to be undertaken]." Mr Kaba died after being shot once in the head by a Met police officer in Streatham Hill, south London, on the evening of Monday, September 5 last year.