Chris Kaba’s family requested answers from the Metropolitan Police as the inquest into his murder was opened and then adjourned today.
This morning, relatives of the father-to-be attended a brief hearing to commence the inquest at the Inner South London Coroner’s Court.
Coroner Andrew Harris began the inquest by expressing condolences to Mr. Kaba’s parents, brother, and cousin who were in attendance.
The court heard that on September 5, unarmed Mr. Kaba, 24, was shot through the windshield of the car he was driving in Streatham Hill, south London, by a police marksman.
The Audi, which police had linked to a guns incident the day before, was being trailed by an unmarked police vehicle.
A marked police vehicle then blocked Mr. Kaba’s Audi from entering a narrow residential street, where he was tragically shot.
Before he was shot, Mr. Kaba, according to eyewitnesses, attempted to force his way out by ramming the door.
The inquest will be postponed while the Independent Office of Police Conduct investigates the circumstances surrounding the shooting.
The Metropolitan Police sniper who shot Mr. Kaba has been placed on administrative leave.
Mr. Kaba’s cousin, Jefferson Bosela, commented on behalf of the family: ‘Today’s hearing was another step towards securing justice for Chris.
Chris Kaba, 24, was slain on September 5 after a police automobile chase that culminated in a home street in Streatham Hill.
“Tomorrow, October 5, will commemorate precisely one month since Chris was fatally shot by a police officer while sitting in an unarmed automobile.
Since that tragic event, my family and all others who knew him have been asking one question: Why?
A month later, we are still very far from receiving a satisfactory response.
But there’s something else we need to know that’s equally crucial: Who will be held accountable for his death?
Mr. Kaba’s family viewed incident footage and met with Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and IOPC director general Michael Lockwood last month.
According to Sky News, the meeting between the family and police lasted approximately 25 minutes.
How can an unarmed young man sitting in a car in London in 2022 be shot in the head by police? Mr Bosela stated today.
This never should have occurred. This must never occur again. This must never be accepted as normal. Someone must bear responsibility.
“We are pleased that the IOPC is investigating this situation as a homicide, and we hope that this will lead to prosecutions.” However, we are disturbed by the length of time we’ve been informed this will take.
We do not believe that this procedure should take longer than other murder investigations simply because Chris’s killer is a police officer.
During the hearing, the IOPC acknowledged that the investigation will span between six and nine months.
Mr. Bosela urged that police be interviewed promptly under caution, that a CPS charging decision be made immediately, and that the family be routinely updated on the IOPC’s investigation.
He continued, ‘We loved my cousin Chris very dearly. His absence is felt daily. He had a promising future ahead of him, as the birth of his first kid was imminent. Tragically, his life was cut short by a police officer.
We will not rest until those responsible for Chris’s killing are held accountable in full.
Last month, thousands of demonstrators marched to Scotland Yard to condemn the killing of a rapper.
Mr. Kaba’s mother told Sky News last month, ‘My heart is devastated.’ I desire justice for my son and I seek the truth.
IOPC investigators will explore whether race played a role in the deadly shooting.
In a statement, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it will investigate “all the circumstances” surrounding the death of the unarmed father-to-be, including whether “race influenced any police actions.”
Last month, thousands of demonstrators marched to Scotland Yard to condemn the killing of a rapper.
The complete statement from Chris Kaba’s family was issued today.
“Today’s hearing was another step in Chris’s pursuit of justice.
Tomorrow, October 5, will commemorate precisely one month since Chris was fatally shot by a police officer while sitting in an unarmed automobile.
Since that awful occurrence, my family and everyone who knew him have been asking one question: WHY?
A month later, we are still very far from receiving a satisfactory response.
We also want to know who will be held accountable for his death, which is of equal importance.
I am Chris’s cousin, and my family and I are here today to get answers to both of those questions.
We need ANSWERS. Not only this family, but also all of London — the entire nation – deserves to know how this could have happened.
How can an unarmed young man sitting in a car in London in 2022 be shot in the head by police?
This should have never occurred. This must never occur again. This must never be accepted as normal. Someone must bear responsibility.
We are pleased that the IOPC is investigating this situation as a homicide, and we hope that this will lead to prosecutions. However, we are disturbed by the length of time we’ve been informed this will take.
We do not accept that this inquiry should take longer than others simply because Chris’s killer is a police officer.
Now, THREE things must occur:
Officers must be interviewed immediately under caution.
After nearly a month, neither the cop who killed Chris nor any of the other police involved have been interviewed under caution, according to our sources.
A CPS charging decision is required immediately.
This should not require many months. Within weeks, they should have access to the evidence necessary to make this determination. For this family and many others to have faith in the system that is meant to deliver them justice, an immediate decision on criminal charges is essential.
The family must be kept informed of the investigation’s progress.
While we have had nice interactions with the IOPC, our family has occasionally had to pursue the IOPC for information or push them to do what they ought to be doing. The greatest approach for the family to have faith in the procedure is if they are constantly informed at each stage.
We are aware that there are a large number of individuals who are as concerned about what happened to Chris as his family and friends.
Chris might have been their son, sibling, cousin, or close friend for many of them. What happened to Chris seems very personal to communities throughout London. They comprehend and feel the suffering our family is experiencing.
The family thanks everyone who supported the campaign for justice. This support has been crucial, as it demonstrates that lots of people find what happened to Chris abhorrent.
We also request that anyone with information – persons who may have witnessed something or have film captured on a camera or mobile device – call our attorneys and offer it to us, or contact the IOPC and provide it to them. We need as much evidence as possible to have the best chance of ensuring justice is served.
My cousin Chris was well regarded by us. His absence is felt daily. He had a promising future ahead of him, as the birth of his first kid was imminent. Tragically, his life was cut short by a police officer.
We will not rest until those accountable for Chris’s death are held accountable in full.