The man who shot dead Sergeant Matt Ratana while handcuffed inside a police station custody cell has been found guilty of murder.
Louis De Zoysa, 25, fired the antique pistol four times just as 54-year-old custody sergeant Ratana was preparing to search him in the course of an arrest.
Metropolitan Police officers who first detained De Zoysa found ammunition and cannabis, but had failed to spot the gun tucked under his arm.
Sergeant Ratana was struck in the chest by one of the shots, fired by De Zoysa despite him being hancuffed with his arms behind his back at the time.
At Northampton crown court on Friday, De Zoysa was found guilty by a jury of murder.
He had denied the charge, insisting the shooting happened during the course of an “autistic meltdown”.
Mr Justice Johnson said he will sentence De Zoysa at the same court on July 27.
Speaking outside the courthouse, Sgt Ratana’s partner Su Bushby described him as her “gentle giant” and said “he will never be forgotten”.
“Today is about justice for Matt. His life was taken too soon in the line of duty doing a job that he loved – a cruel end to a lifetime of service and dedication protecting others.
“Whilst the court case has concluded, the constant feeling of grief and loss continues.
“My love for Matt, my gentle giant, will never end. He will never be forgotten.”
De Zoysa, a former HMRC data analyst, was sat in a wheelchair when the verdict was delivered, as Met Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley and Ms Bushby sat nearby.
He nodded twice at the guilty verdict, before being told a series of extra gun and ammunition charges will be left to lie on file at the sentencing hearing.
Outside court, Sir Mark said he believes “more lives would certainly have been lost” without the courage of officers on duty on the night of the shooting. “Officers never have a perfect picture of what awaits them at the next incident.
“Every day for example, we take several firearms off the streets of London and the vast majority of those are seized in routine police work by unarmed officers. The men and women in policing daily stepping forward into uncertainty and risk are truly remarkable and deserve our admiration.
“The officers and staff on duty the night Matt was murdered show just those attributes.
“Without their courage, I believe that more lives would certainly have been lost.
“I’m immensely proud of their professionalism and their bravery. They have my enduring admiration and my full support.”
De Zoysa, a former engineering student at UCL, shot himself in the neck during the course of the incident on September 25, 2020, triggering a stroke, causing brain damage and forcing the justice system to set up a specially-organised trial.
He made a failed bid for the case to be stopped - arguing he was unfit to stand trial - but Mr Justice Johnson insisted the courts could make allowance to enable a jury to reach a verdict.
The case was shifted from the Old Bailey to Northampton to be closer to the secure hospital where De Zoysa is receiving treatment, he used a whiteboard and marker pen to communicate at times, and a simplified list of questions was drawn up so that he could give his evidence.De Zoysa had bought the gun online – legally due to its antique status – he drilled down bullets to fit in the chamber. and he had also constructed a shotgun from old parts at his home.
He was stopped by police in London Road, Norbury, south London, in the early hours of September 25, 2020, when drugs and ammunition were found and he was taken into custody.
When he reached the custody centre in Croydon, De Zoysa was handcuffed and CCTV footage showed Sgt Ratana telling him he was about to be searched as part of the booking-in process.
Shocking footage – released by the Met Police – shows De Zoysa suddenly stretching his arms around his body, moments before the shooting.
Officers wrestled him to the ground once the shots had been fired, and Sgt Ratana was rushed to hospital.
“Louis De Zoysa pulled the trigger on purpose twice when he was pointing the gun at Sgt Ratana”, said prosecutor Duncan Penny KC.
“The police officers did not find that Louis De Zoysa was carrying a loaded revolver in a holster. The gun and holster were probably concealed under one of his armpits.”
Describing the incident in the holding cell, the prosecutor said: “Louis De Zoysa was still handcuffed. He was able to point the gun Sergeant Ratana. He deliberately shot Sergeant Ratana once to the chest, at very close range. He did not give a warning.”
Following the guilty verdict, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said its recommendation that all police vehicle are equipped in the future with handheld metal detectors has been accepted by the National Police Chiefs Council.
The two officers who searched De Zoysa on the street were given further training but will not face disciplinary proceedings, the IOPC said.
Director of Operations Amanda Rowe added: “The same officers should be commended for their incredible bravery in trying to disarm De Zoysa after he produced the firearm. They acted without hesitation, despite the significant danger they were placed in at the time.”
De Zoysa, who had been living in a flat at a farm in Banstead, gave evidence in his defence, delivering largely one-word answers.
He insisted he had never intended to fire the gun, blaming the shooting on a “panic attack”.
De Zoysa also said he has “hypermobility”, which enabled him to move his arms even though he was handcuffed.
He also told the court about violence he had suffered at home from his father, his autism diagnosis, and his consumption of cannabis to be “mellow”.
After Sgt Ratana’s death, tributes poured in for the 29-year policing veteran who moved to the UK from his native New Zealand.
At the unveiling of a memorial last year, Chief Superintendent Dave Stringer, Commander for Croydon, said: “The students have done a wonderful job of capturing what Matt stood for and how people far and wide were affected by his tragic death.
“Matt was a larger-than-life character, with a real passion for helping others, so it was fitting to invite young Croydon community members to create a tribute to his legacy.“Every day, colleagues will look at this spectacular artwork and they will remember Matt and be inspired to make a positive difference to others’ lives in the way he did with such inexhaustible enthusiasm.”
Sir Mark said today: “Matt dedicated almost 30 years to policing and was nearing retirement when he was tragically murdered. He was an outstanding officer who brought joy to his work, treating everyone with respect, compassion and good humour.
“In the days after his death, tributes flowed in from Matt’s colleagues, from communities he had served and from those who knew him in his life outside policing. They were a testament to the man he was.
“Whether it was on the street or in a custody centre as a uniformed police officer, or on the rugby field as a player and later a coach, it is clear he was someone who made an enduring impact wherever he went. We will ensure that he is never forgotten.
“I have also seen the heavy impact that Matt’s murder had on his colleagues, those he worked with in Croydon and also the many officers and staff he had served alongside in his lengthy career.
“That impact is particularly felt by those who were present on the night he was murdered.”
Ken Marsh, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “Sgt Matt Ratana was the best of us. A larger than life, much-loved and brave Met officer missed to this day by all who knew him.
“To hear and sadly be forced to see details of his death during the course of this trial has been harrowing for many colleagues who knew and respected this superb cop.
“Colleagues will be pleased to see justice has been served in this case and we hope that his killer pays the heaviest price for murdering a police officer. He should spend the rest of his life in custody.
“We would like at this time to also pay tribute to the painstaking work of Metropolitan Police detectives in this case. The difficulty of having to investigate the murder of a friend and colleague cannot be underestimated.
“Our thoughts remain with Sgt Ratana’s partner, family and friends from across the world - and his close colleagues. The good memories of Matt and legacy of his life will live on.”
