The man accused of fatally shooting Metropolitan Police sergeant Matt Ratana said he is “sad” at the death but denied murder, as he gave evidence in a specially-modified court session.
Louis de Zoysa, 25, is accused of murdering Sgt Ratana, 54, at a custody block in Croydon, south London, on September 25 2020 while he was handcuffed.
De Zoysa had been found with ammunition and cannabis when he was arrested in the street, but officers did not find the antique revolver he was carrying, the court heard.
The alleged killer was also shot in the incident, and now has communication difficulties as a result of brain damage.
De Zoysa sat in a wheelchair in the well of Northampton crown court to give evidence on Tuesday, using a whiteboard and marker to draw or write some of his answers.
Simplified questions have been prepared to enable De Zoysa to give his evidence, which was often delivered in single word answers during the morning session.
“The arrangements for the defendant to give evidence depart from what would ordinarily happen”, Mr Justice Johnson told the jury.
It is alleged De Zoysa deliberately fired the gun four times in the police station cell when Sgt Ratana announced he was about to be searched.
After taking a modified oath, De Zoysa confirmed his name verbally and confirmed his date of birth and age using the whiteboard.
He told the court he felt “sad” at the death of Sgt Ratana, and confirmed that CCTV shows the shooting.
When asked what he understood murder to mean, De Zoysa replied: “Kill.”
His barrister, Imran Khan KC, asked: “Are you guilty of murder, Louis?” and De Zoysa replied “no”.
Later in evidence, though, De Zoysa said he did not understand the word “guilty”.
De Zoysa, a former HM Revenue and Customs worker, was asked about his family background, and drew a picture of a knife.
Mr Khan confirmed De Zoysa was presenting “Dad cutting somebody with a knife”, and asked him about a past arrest over a fight with his father.
Asked about family dinners, De Zoysa said “violence” and that they were “crazy”.
“My understanding is there was violence at the dinner table and it was crazy”, said Mr Khan.
De Zoysa, who has autism, also told the court he had smoked cannabis in the past as it made him feel “mellow”.
He had been arrested on London Road, Norbury, south London, during the early hours of September 25 2020.
Sgt Ratana was rushed to hospital after the shooting but died from a chest injury. De Zoysa, of Banstead, Surrey, denies murder.
Jurors have been told they will have to consider whether De Zoysa deliberately fired the revolver and the question of diminished responsibility.
The trial continues.
