The alleged killer of a Metropolitan Police Sergeant who was shot dead at a south London custody centre has denied a charge of murder.
Louis De Zoysa, 25, is accused of shooting Matt Ratana in the chest while handcuffed during a search at a police station in Croydon in the early hours of September 25, 2020.
At a hearing in front of Mr Justice Jeremy Baker at Northampton crown court on Friday, De Zoysa entered a not guilty plea via videolink from hospital.
Sitting in a wheelchair with his right arm in a sling, De Zoysa used a whiteboard with the words ‘not guilty’ written on it to enter the plea to the murder charge.
De Zoysa is due to stand trial on June 6 at Northampton crown court.
He is accused of discharging four bullets in a holding cell at Croydon Custody Centre after he was arrested in the street in Norwood.
The first bullet struck 54-year-old Sgt Ratana in the chest, causing a fatal wound, while he was also hit in the leg. De Zoysa himself was also shot in the incident.
Sgt Ratana was taken to St George’s Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, while De Zoysa survived after he was treated by officers and London Ambulance staff.
The defendant, from Norbury and who had been staying in Banstead at the time, remains in custody until his trial.
