30 Jun 2021

Sgt Matt Ratana shooting: Man charged with murdering police officer

2:53 pm on 30 June 2021

A man has been charged with murdering Met police sergeant Matt Ratana, who was shot while working at Croydon custody centre.

Matt Ratana moved to the UK in 1989 and joined the Met Police two years later.

Photo: Hackney Police

New Zealand-born Sergeant Matiu Ratana, 54, known as Matt, was shot in the chest as a handcuffed suspect was being taken into custody on 25 September 2020.

Louis De Zoysa, 23, also suffered a gunshot wound and was badly injured.

Recent changes to his condition, which was previously life-threatening, have led to de Zoysa being charged by the Crown Prosecution Service.

He was to appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday via video-link.

"We have updated Matt's partner and son on this significant development," a Met Police spokesperson said.

A memorial service was held for Ratana in West Sussex in November last year] and live-streamed so his relatives in New Zealand, and others, could follow the service.

- BBC