Chris Kaba wasn’t the innocent man he was made out to be – keeping his past hidden from public risked inciting violence

Chris Kaba was a feared “core member” of a notorious gang and was involved in a nightclub shooting just days before he was shot by a cleared cop, it can be revealed today.

The 24-year-old drill rapper had served prison sentences for firearms offences and possessing weapons.

It can now be revealed that the Audi Q8 the father-of-one was driving when he was shot had been linked to three previous gun incidents in 2022.

CCTV footage allegedly captured the moment Mr Kaba opened fire on a rival in a nightclub on August 30 and Mr Blake’s defence said there was “strong evidence” he was also involved in a Brixton shooting the night before his death.

The first shotgun incident to which the Audi was linked was on May 22 2022 in Bromley, south London.

It involved the same type of gun used in a shooting on September 4 and was still outstanding when Mr Kaba was killed, the court heard in the absence of the jury.

Early on August 30 2022, Mr Kaba had targeted a rival to his “67 gang” at the Oval Space club in Hackney, north London, an earlier Old Bailey trial had heard.

He and other 67 associates had been at a party in the nightclub when he spotted 25-year-old Brandon Malutshi who was associated with the rival “17 gang”.

Mr Kaba was said to be “moving mad” before he produced a handgun and shot at Mr Malutshi, causing panic on the dancefloor.

Wearing a grey tracksuit, he then pursued the victim into the street brandishing the handgun and shooting as Mr Malutshi tried to flee, it was alleged.

A number of shots were fired before Mr Malutshi collapsed having suffered gunshot wounds to both legs.

He was taken to hospital where he was treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Mr Kaba was identified on CCTV footage of the shooting taken from inside and outside the club.

The gun, which was not recovered, had been smuggled into the club by Marcus Pottinger, who had previously worked there and was able to avoid security checks.

Mr Kaba had travelled to Hackney in the Audi but made his getaway in a Range Rover.

The Audi was driven away by Shemiah Bell who parked it outside his home for Mr Kaba to pick up in the morning.

Following an earlier trial at the Old Bailey, Pottinger, 31, and Bell, 32, were found guilty of wounding with intent.

The pair along with Connel Bamgboye, 29, were found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

In April, Judge Simon Mayo KC jailed Bell for 10 years, Pottinger for nine years and Bamgboye for five years and six months.

THIS is how events unfolded two years ago.

August 30, 2022: CCTV footage allegedly captured the moment Kaba opened fire on a rival in a nightclub in Hackney.

September 4, 2022: Kaba’s Audi Q8 was linked to a shotgun attack on a car containing two people outside a Brixton school.

September 5, 2022: A Tactical Firearms Commander is made aware of the sighting of the Audi Q8, driven by Chris Kaba, after ANPR camera flags up its alleged involvement in the previous shooting.

The commander declares a firearms incident and passes tactics to an armed response team. Armed officers pursue the car, which is forced to a stop at 10.07pm in Streatham Hill, South London.

As Mr Kaba revs the engine, an officer standing in front of the car fires a single shot through the windscreen.

September 6: Mr Kaba dies in hospital at 0.19am. The Metropolitan Police refers itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

September 7: Statement by Mr Kaba’s family’s calls for a murder investigation.

September 12: Met confirm Officer NX121 has been suspended from frontline duties

September 20, 2023: Officer charged with murder by the Crown Prosecution Service. Hundreds of colleagues reportedly turn in their weapons permits.

March 8, 2024: Judge lifts anonymity order, naming Martyn Blake as the officer.

October 21, 2024: Blake is cleared of murder, with jurors at the Old Bailey taking just three hours to reach a unanimous verdict.

By Mike Sullivan, Crime Editor

AT long last the public are now aware of the full facts surrounding the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba by Met firearms officer Martyn Blake.

Mr Justice Henry delayed his decision to lift reporting restrictions about Kaba’s appalling background until this morning.

He was then caught by surprise when the jury returned their verdict after deliberating for just three hours.

By keeping the public in the dark about Kaba, in my opinion the judge risked provoking public disorder.

A peaceful protest of around 125 of Kaba’s supporters took place at the Old Bailey on Monday night.

Back in August 2011 another demo outside Tottenham police station over the police shooting of Mark Duggan, led to nationwide riots.

I felt sorry for the callers to radio talk shows expressing their anger over the shooting of Chris Kaba in the wake of Sgt Blake’s acquittal.

They were not armed with the full picture.

Kaba did not deserve to die and his death is a tragedy for his loved ones and for everyone involved in the case.

But neither was he just the loving father-to-be and construction worker which he was portrayed as.

The jury deserved to know he was a gangster with a history of crime and linked to two shootings in the week before his death.

It provided a potential explanation over why Kaba tried so desperately hard to ram his way free of the police trap.

Likewise, the public also had a right to know the full facts as soon as criminal proceedings ended.

The delay by the judge created a false impression of a case which has touched a raw nerve in our communities.

It also created an unnecessary risk of disorder on our streets