A Metropolitan Police firearms officer charged with the murder of Chris Kaba will be named publicly, a judge has ruled.
The officer, who had previously been known only as NX121, is facing trial at the Old Bailey over the shooting of 24-year-old Mr Kaba in Streatham Hill, south London.
In a ruling at the Old Bailey, judge Mark Lucraft said the police officer will be named publicly on 30 January.
The judge said the officer’s date of birth will be made public next year, but their home address or any image of them cannot be published.
In his ruling, the judge said he had viewed “raw underlying intelligence material” before coming to the conclusion there was not a “real and immediate risk” to the life of the defendant or to their family.
Mr Kaba, a father-to-be, died from a single gunshot wound to the head on 6 September 2022 after the Audi he was driving was blocked in by a police vehicle.
The Crown Prosecution Service’s decision to bring a murder charge sparked concern among some police officers as more than 100 Met officers refused to carry their weapons.
The crisis has since been resolved as they returned to normal duties, but armed officers around the country said before today’s ruling they might down their guns if the officer was publicly named.
In response to the announcement, Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist said the decision will be “hugely concerning” for officers, adding the Metropolitan Police had “supported the anonymity hearing by providing evidence and factual information”.
He said: “I recognise that for officers this decision will be hugely concerning, and that the impact of this and recent cases is felt right across armed policing and beyond.
“We take seriously the open justice principle, however it was important to make the court aware of the effect that loss of anonymity would have in this case.
“We acknowledge the judgment by the court and note the detailed and careful consideration that has taken place.”
The officer was charged with murder on 20 September this year and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court the following day.
Usually, defendants are named publicly at the point they are charged with a criminal offence, but District Judge Nina Tempia put an order in place banning publication of anything that would identify the officer, ahead of further legal hearings at the Old Bailey.
A plea and trial preparation hearing is due to take place on 1 December, with a trial potentially starting on 9 September next year.
