The BBC has been slammed for playing a Chris Kaba documentary at the same time a £10,000 bounty was revealed to remain on the head of the Met firearms officer who killed him.
Martyn Blake – who shot the gang member dead in 2022 in south London – has recently been acquitted of his murder after a three-hour deliberation by a jury at the Old Bailey.
However, at the same time as the trial’s verdict and subsequent news of a bounty being placed on the acquitted officer’s head, the BBC aired an episode of a documentary, discussing the police operation that led to Kaba’s death two years ago.
During the programme, the leader of the investigation defended his choice that a murder inquiry must be launched, asking whether the police officer’s actions were necessary.
At the same time of the trial’s verdict and subsequent news of a bounty being placed on the acquitted officer’s head, the BBC aired an episode of a documentary, discussing the police operation that led to Kaba’s death two years ago
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Former Met officer and police commentator Chris Hobbs told the Telegraph: “The timing of this documentary is very questionable, given that there remains a significant threat to Sergeant Blake’s life.
“The flames have only just begun to die down, but then you have the IOPC and its investigator choosing to throw petrol onto the embers, with the assistance of the BBC and its Panorama documentary.
“We are now fully aware of the extreme levels of violence which surrounded Kaba and his fellow gang thugs.
“This documentary is therefore only likely to increase the risk faced by the officer who was found not guilty of murder.”
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The BBC episode was also broadcast although possible misconduct proceedings into Martyn Blake’s case remain ongoing.
A serving Met officer criticised the national broadcaster for its timing, telling The Telegraph: “Two weeks ago, Sgt Blake was cleared of murder by a jury of his peers. They took just three hours to decide the case against him was unfounded.
“We then discover that Chris Kaba was a key member of one of the most dangerous gangs in London and members of that enterprise have placed a £10,000 bounty on Sgt Blake’s life.
“I would have hoped all of that might be enough to persuade the BBC to hold off airing such a potentially provocative programme. But sadly not. Let’s just hope this doesn’t spark the sort of violent backlash that we feared following the verdict.”
The documentary included interviews with the gangster’s parents, where his father said that his life lost meaning after his son’s death.
The documentary included interviews with the gangster’s parents, where his father said that his own life lost meaning after his son’s death
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He said: “People have to lose their parents. This is life – you are born, you have your parents, they die. You can understand it, you can explain.
“But a parent who loses a son, especially at that age… for me, life doesn’t have any meaning.”
A spokesman for the BBC told the Telegraph: “This investigation is in the public interest.
“All of our programmes are produced in accordance with the BBC’s editorial guidelines – this includes a commitment to impartiality and hearing a range of perspectives.
“We encourage people to watch the documentary in full and to make up their own minds.”
