Chris Kaba family renew calls for justice after being shown bodycam footage of shooting
The family of Chris Kaba, the man shot dead by armed police, have renewed their call for justice after they were shown bodycam footage of the incident.
Mr Kaba was unarmed when he was shot in Kirkstall Gardens, Streatham on September 5 following a car chase with the police.
The officer who killed him has since been suspended by the Metropolitan Police and faces a criminal investigation.
On Wednesday, Mr Kaba’s family met the Met Police Commissioner, Sir Mark Rowley, and the director general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), Michael Lockwood, and were shown bodycam footage of the incident.
Following the meeting, Mr Kaba’s mother, Helen Nkama, said: “It was hard … very hard.
“As I’ve said before, my heart is already broken. What I want is justice for my son and I want the truth.”
Jefferson Bosela, Mr Kaba’s cousin, who was also at the meeting, said: “It was hard, but the family just wants justice. For now, the family are going to take a break and take a step back.”
Last week, the IOPC said it would examine whether or not Mr Kaba’s race influenced any actions taken by the police.
It said it would “explore all of the circumstances surrounding Mr Kaba’s death”, including how the officers came to be aware of the vehicle Mr Kaba was driving and if they had any prior knowledge of the rapper.
IOPC’s regional director, Sal Naseem, said: “We fully appreciate that Chris Kaba’s devastated family and the community have a lot of unanswered questions about his death.
“We have been in further contact with Chris’s family this week to answer a number of questions they have and to offer them privately and confidentially the opportunity to view video footage as soon as it is practicable.
“We have also advised Chris’s family that we aim to complete our investigation within six to nine months.”
A post-mortem examination has been completed and the preliminary medical cause of death was given as a gunshot wound to the head.
The senior coroner has advised that the inquest will be opened in public at 9.45am on October 4.
Pictured top: Chris Kaba (Picture: Family handout)
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