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| Sgt Matiu Ratana: Man denies murdering Met Police officer | Sgt Matiu Ratana: Man denies murdering Met Police officer |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Sgt Ratana was also head coach at East Grinstead Rugby Club, where he was described as an "irreplaceable" figure | Sgt Ratana was also head coach at East Grinstead Rugby Club, where he was described as an "irreplaceable" figure |
| A man has denied murdering Metropolitan Police Sgt Matiu Ratana, who was shot dead while on duty in south London. | A man has denied murdering Metropolitan Police Sgt Matiu Ratana, who was shot dead while on duty in south London. |
| Sgt Ratana, known as Matt, 54, was shot in the chest as a handcuffed suspect was being taken into custody at Croydon Custody Centre on 25 September 2020. | Sgt Ratana, known as Matt, 54, was shot in the chest as a handcuffed suspect was being taken into custody at Croydon Custody Centre on 25 September 2020. |
| Louis De Zoysa, from Banstead, Surrey, has been in hospital after being shot in the neck during the incident. | Louis De Zoysa, from Banstead, Surrey, has been in hospital after being shot in the neck during the incident. |
| Mr De Zoysa, 25, appeared at Northampton Crown Court via video link to plead not guilty. | Mr De Zoysa, 25, appeared at Northampton Crown Court via video link to plead not guilty. |
| The defendant was in a wheelchair, with his right arm in a sling and was assisted by an intermediary. | The defendant was in a wheelchair, with his right arm in a sling and was assisted by an intermediary. |
| Mr De Zoysa also appeared at a previous hearing in March wearing an arm sling | |
| He entered his plea by holding up a whiteboard with the words "not guilty" written on it. | He entered his plea by holding up a whiteboard with the words "not guilty" written on it. |
| Mr De Zoysa is currently a patient at the nearby St Andrews Healthcare, a brain injury hospital. | Mr De Zoysa is currently a patient at the nearby St Andrews Healthcare, a brain injury hospital. |
| A trial date was set for 6 June, to take place in Northampton. | A trial date was set for 6 June, to take place in Northampton. |
| New Zealand-born Sgt Ratana was two months away from being eligible for retirement when he died. | New Zealand-born Sgt Ratana was two months away from being eligible for retirement when he died. |
| In the days after his death, the then-Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick described Sgt Ratana as a "talented officer" who was "big in heart". | In the days after his death, the then-Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick described Sgt Ratana as a "talented officer" who was "big in heart". |
| "Matt spent very nearly 30 years as a uniformed police officer serving the public of London," Dame Cressida said. | |
| "He will be remembered so fondly in Croydon and missed there, as well as in the Met and the rugby world," she added. | |
| Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk | Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Banstead | Banstead |
| Croydon | Croydon |
| Metropolitan Police Service | Metropolitan Police Service |
| London | London |