Met Police officer charged with murdering unarmed Black man Chris Kaba keeps name secret – for now

The officer, known only as NX121, was granted bail until his next hearing

Chris Kaba, 24, had turned into Kirkstall Gardens in Streatham Hill, south London and collided with a marked police car in the moments before the shooting on September 6 last year (Inquest/PA) (PA Media)

A Metropolitan Police officer charged with murdering unarmed Black man Chris Kaba has kept his name secret – for now.

Mr Kaba died after he was shot in the head through the windscreen of the car he was driving in September 2022.

The officer, identified only as NX121, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning, where lawyers acting for several news outlets challenged an application for the officer to remain anonymous.

District Judge Nina Tempia granted an order for anonymity, meaning he cannot be named at this stage. However, a judge at the Old Bailey is set to decide if this should be overturned next week.

She added: “There will be a direction that nothing is to be reported to identify the defendant and that includes any description of the defendant.”

At a second hearing at Central Criminal Court on Thursday afternoon, the Recorder of London Mark Lucraft KC said he would consider the anonymity applications next Friday, 29 September.

He also granted the defendant, who spoke only to confirm his identity as officer NX121, conditional bail.

The defendant was told he must sleep and live at a specified address, surrender his passport and not apply for any international travel documents.

Judge Lucraft KC also told the defendant that statutory medical reports must be carried out.

He added: “If you breach any of the conditions you will be remanded into custody. Do you understand?”

A plea and trial preparation hearing was scheduled for 1 December, with a provisional trial date set for 9 September next year.