This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-65833109
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Sgt Matiu Ratana: Murder jury shown CCTV of policeman being shot | |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Sgt Matiu Ratana was the on-duty custody sergeant | Sgt Matiu Ratana was the on-duty custody sergeant |
| A jury has been shown the moment when a Met Police sergeant was shot with an antique revolver in a custody holding cell in south London. | |
| Louis De Zoysa, 25, denies killing Matiu Ratana, 54, with a gun concealed in an underarm holster at Croydon Custody Centre in 2020. | |
| "Louis De Zoysa pulled the trigger on purpose four times," prosecutors said. | "Louis De Zoysa pulled the trigger on purpose four times," prosecutors said. |
| Duncan Penny KC added Mr De Zoysa "injured himself with the fourth shot". | Duncan Penny KC added Mr De Zoysa "injured himself with the fourth shot". |
| The prosecution alleges Sgt Ratana, who was also known as Matthew and was the on-duty custody sergeant, was killed while Mr De Zoysa was handcuffed in a holding cell. | The prosecution alleges Sgt Ratana, who was also known as Matthew and was the on-duty custody sergeant, was killed while Mr De Zoysa was handcuffed in a holding cell. |
| Mr Penny told the jury the defendant bought the antique gun at an auction in June 2020, that it was legal to own, and he had made his own bullets because ammunition for it was no longer manufactured. | |
| Officers who arrested and searched the Mr De Zoysa earlier in the day "did not find" he was carrying a loaded revolver in a holster, the court heard. | |
| Mr Penny KC told Northampton Crown Court: "The prosecution say Louis De Zoysa pointed his gun at Sgt Ratana", and that he "pulled the trigger on purpose twice when he was pointing the gun at Sgt Ratana". | |
| "There is CCTV footage and other video of what happened," he added. | |
| Louis De Zoysa arriving at court at the start of his trial on Tuesday in a wheelchair | Louis De Zoysa arriving at court at the start of his trial on Tuesday in a wheelchair |
| "The video and the audio shows Louis De Zoysa killing Matthew Ratana," the prosecutor said. | "The video and the audio shows Louis De Zoysa killing Matthew Ratana," the prosecutor said. |
| On the opening day of the case on Tuesday, the court heard the fourth shot hit Mr De Zoysa in the neck, causing him to suffer brain damage. | On the opening day of the case on Tuesday, the court heard the fourth shot hit Mr De Zoysa in the neck, causing him to suffer brain damage. |
| As a result, he will be assisted by an intermediary during his trial and uses a whiteboard because of communication difficulties, the jurors were told. | As a result, he will be assisted by an intermediary during his trial and uses a whiteboard because of communication difficulties, the jurors were told. |
| "I am going to be talking in short sentences and simple words," Mr Penny KC told the court on Wednesday. "This is so that Louis De Zoysa can understand what I am saying." | "I am going to be talking in short sentences and simple words," Mr Penny KC told the court on Wednesday. "This is so that Louis De Zoysa can understand what I am saying." |
| The prosecution opened their case by recounting the events that led up to the shooting. | The prosecution opened their case by recounting the events that led up to the shooting. |
| It told the jury that: "On Friday 25 September 2020, Louis de Zoysa was walking along London Road, in Norbury." | It told the jury that: "On Friday 25 September 2020, Louis de Zoysa was walking along London Road, in Norbury." |
| He was stopped by the police and searched by officers on the street and handcuffed, the prosecution told jurors, who were also shown the officers' body-worn camera footage. | He was stopped by the police and searched by officers on the street and handcuffed, the prosecution told jurors, who were also shown the officers' body-worn camera footage. |
| "The police officers found that Louis De Zoysa was carrying cannabis and seven rounds of ammunition but the police officers did not find that Louis De Zoysa was carrying a loaded revolver in a holster. | "The police officers found that Louis De Zoysa was carrying cannabis and seven rounds of ammunition but the police officers did not find that Louis De Zoysa was carrying a loaded revolver in a holster. |
| "The gun and holster were probably concealed under one of his armpits," the court was told. | "The gun and holster were probably concealed under one of his armpits," the court was told. |
| Mr De Zoysa bought the antique revolver in an online auction in June 2020, the court heard | Mr De Zoysa bought the antique revolver in an online auction in June 2020, the court heard |
| Mr De Zoysa, who was 23 at the time, was then taken to Croydon Police Station and put in a holding room, still handcuffed. | Mr De Zoysa, who was 23 at the time, was then taken to Croydon Police Station and put in a holding room, still handcuffed. |
| Jurors were told: "Louis De Zoysa kept the gun hidden and was able to point the gun at Sgt Ratana," who was on duty. | Jurors were told: "Louis De Zoysa kept the gun hidden and was able to point the gun at Sgt Ratana," who was on duty. |
| "He deliberately shot Sgt Ratana, once to the chest, at very close range. He did not give a warning." | "He deliberately shot Sgt Ratana, once to the chest, at very close range. He did not give a warning." |
| The court heard the other officers present were not able to stop Mr De Zoysa, and the shot caused a fatal injury to Sgt Ratana's left lung and heart. The prosecution says this was "deliberate". | The court heard the other officers present were not able to stop Mr De Zoysa, and the shot caused a fatal injury to Sgt Ratana's left lung and heart. The prosecution says this was "deliberate". |
| Three further shots, including the one that injured Mr De Zoysa, were fired during a struggle with the other officers, the court was told. | Three further shots, including the one that injured Mr De Zoysa, were fired during a struggle with the other officers, the court was told. |
| The prosecution alleges: "The second shot was another deliberate shot at Sgt Ratana." That hit the officer in the leg. | |
| The third shot hit the cell. | |
| Mr De Zoysa, of Banstead, Surrey, has pleaded not guilty to murder. | |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
| 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 |