Sgt Matiu Ratana: Murder accused pointed gun at police officer, trial told

A antheral accused of murdering a Metropolitan Police serviceman by shooting him astatine a custody centre "pulled the trigger connected purpose", his proceedings heard.

Louis De Zoysa, 25, denies sidesplitting Sgt Matiu Ratana, 54, by shooting him astatine the custody centre successful Croydon, southbound London, connected 25 September 2020.

Duncan Penny KC opened the prosecution by saying: "Louis De Zoysa pulled the trigger connected intent 4 times".

He added Mr De Zoysa "injured himself with the 4th shot".

Prosecutors allege Sgt Ratana, who was the connected work custody sergeant, was killed portion Mr De Zoysa was handcuffed successful a holding cell.

Mr Penny KC said: "The prosecution accidental Louis De Zoysa pointed his weapon astatine Sgt Ratana", and that helium "pulled the trigger connected intent doubly erstwhile helium was pointing the weapon astatine Sgt Ratana".

"There is CCTV footage and different video of what happened," Mr Penny KC told jurors astatine Northampton Crown Court.

"The video and the audio shows Louis De Zoysa sidesplitting Matthew Ratana," the authoritative said.

On the opening time of the lawsuit connected Tuesday, the tribunal heard the 4th changeable deed Mr De Zoysa successful the neck, causing him to endure encephalon damage.

As a result, helium volition beryllium assisted by an intermediary during his proceedings and uses a whiteboard due to the fact that of connection difficulties, the jurors were told.

"I americium going to beryllium talking successful abbreviated sentences and elemental words," Mr Penny KC told the tribunal connected Wednesday. "This is truthful that Louis De Zoysa tin recognize what I americium saying."

The prosecution started their lawsuit by recounting the events that led up to the shooting.

It told the assemblage that: "On Friday 25 September 2020, Louis de Zoysa was walking on London Road, successful Norbury."

He was stopped by the constabulary and searched by constabulary officers connected the thoroughfare and handcuffed, the assemblage was told.

"The constabulary officers recovered that Louis De Zoysa was carrying cannabis and 7 rounds of ammunition but the constabulary officers did not find that Louis De Zoysa was carrying a loaded revolver successful a holster.

"The weapon and holster were astir apt concealed nether 1 of his armpits," the tribunal was told.

Mr De Zoysa was past taken to Croydon Police Station and enactment successful a holding room, inactive handcuffed.

Jurors were told: "Louis De Zoysa kept the weapon hidden and was capable to constituent the weapon astatine Sgt Ratana," who was connected duty.

"He deliberately changeable Sgt Ratana, erstwhile to the chest, astatine precise adjacent range. He did not springiness a warning."

Mr De Zoysa, of Banstead, Surrey, pleaded not blameworthy to execution during a erstwhile proceeding astatine the aforesaid tribunal successful April.