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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/sep/28/my-gentle-giant-matiu-ratanas-partner-says-policeman-shot-dead-touched-many-lives
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| 'My gentle giant': Matiu Ratana's partner says policeman shot dead touched many lives | 'My gentle giant': Matiu Ratana's partner says policeman shot dead touched many lives |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Su Bushby paid tribute to ‘my partner, friend, confidant and soulmate’ | |
| The partner of Matiu Ratana, the police officer who was killed at a south London station, has paid tribute to the man she described as a “gentle giant” who had touched many lives. | The partner of Matiu Ratana, the police officer who was killed at a south London station, has paid tribute to the man she described as a “gentle giant” who had touched many lives. |
| “There aren’t really any words for how I am feeling right now about the loss of Matt; about losing someone I loved and was so close to in such a tragic manner,” said Su Bushby, who was in a relationship with the Metropolitan police sergeant for five years. | “There aren’t really any words for how I am feeling right now about the loss of Matt; about losing someone I loved and was so close to in such a tragic manner,” said Su Bushby, who was in a relationship with the Metropolitan police sergeant for five years. |
| “I know Matt touched many, many people’s lives with his friendliness, patience, kindness, enthusiasm and caring ways,” she added in a statement issued through the Metropolitan police. | “I know Matt touched many, many people’s lives with his friendliness, patience, kindness, enthusiasm and caring ways,” she added in a statement issued through the Metropolitan police. |
| “I had the pleasure of sharing five years of my life with this lovely man – my gentle giant, with his infectious smile and big heart. I think of him with tenderness and love. | “I had the pleasure of sharing five years of my life with this lovely man – my gentle giant, with his infectious smile and big heart. I think of him with tenderness and love. |
| “Matt was my partner, friend, confidant, support and soulmate. He will be greatly missed but never forgotten. Matt will always be in my head and in my heart.” | |
| Ratana, originally from Hawke’s Bay in New Zealand, came to London in 1989, two years before joining the force. A former rugby player with London Irish who was nearing retirement from the police, he had also been head coach at East Grinstead rugby club. | |
| The tribute came as a minute’s silence was held in the House of Commons and a string of community leaders and charity leaders in Croydon paid tribute to him in a video shared on social media on Monday. | The tribute came as a minute’s silence was held in the House of Commons and a string of community leaders and charity leaders in Croydon paid tribute to him in a video shared on social media on Monday. |
| The home secretary, Priti Patel, said she will introduce a police covenant to enshrine support for officers and their families into law. | The home secretary, Priti Patel, said she will introduce a police covenant to enshrine support for officers and their families into law. |
| She told MPs: “I will continue to do everything in my power to protect them including spearheading work to double sentences for attacks on emergency workers and also legislating to introduce a police covenant to enshrine support for our officers and their families in law.” | She told MPs: “I will continue to do everything in my power to protect them including spearheading work to double sentences for attacks on emergency workers and also legislating to introduce a police covenant to enshrine support for our officers and their families in law.” |
| No police firearms were discharged in the incident, and the case is not being treated as terror-related. A second man has also been arrested in Norwich, Norfolk on suspicion of supplying a firearm. | No police firearms were discharged in the incident, and the case is not being treated as terror-related. A second man has also been arrested in Norwich, Norfolk on suspicion of supplying a firearm. |
| The suspect in the shooting is 23-year-old Louis de Zoysa, sources have told the Guardian. He remains in hospital in a critical condition. | The suspect in the shooting is 23-year-old Louis de Zoysa, sources have told the Guardian. He remains in hospital in a critical condition. |