
Sign up to save your podcasts
Or


To listen to this archived series of The Trial, become a member of The Crime Desk today.
You'll also get ad-free access to every show across The Crime Desk network, exclusive access to The Trial’s extensive archive of over 200 episodes, from The Trial of Lucy Letby to our innovative series The Trial of Lord Lucan.
Plus, enjoy an exclusive, members-only episode every week with The Trial+ — a weekly deep-dive into the most important stories in the world of courtroom justice.
And if that wasn't enough, you'll also unlock early access to brand new shows before anyone else.
Just head to thecrimedesk.com and get the first month free when you sign up for an annual membership. Terms apply.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Follow us at @thetrialpod
Email us at [email protected]
Leave a comment on Spotify or send us a voice note on WhatsApp - +447796657512 (start your message with 'Trial')
A Daily Mail Production.
Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
In light of the Not Guilty verdict for firearms officer Martyn Blake, join us for
the final episode of this series as we discuss the fallout of this landmark
case. This includes today's announcement from the Home Secretary that there will
now be a presumption of anonymity for all firearms officers facing trial over
shooting in the course of duty up to the point of conviction.
Mark Williams, Chief Executive of the Police Firearms Officers Association talks to
Caroline and George about how important this will be for protecting officers who discharge guns in the course of duty in the future and the impact of the trial on Martyn Blake, other firearms officers and their families.
Welcome to Episode 7: What Now?
Follow us on instagram @thetrialpod
Email us [email protected]
Whatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)
Presenters: Caroline Cheetham and George Odling
Guest: Mark Williams
Editor: Chelsey Moore
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Executive Producer: Lucy Vallance
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
The jury have returned a Not Guilty verdict for firearms officer Martyn Blake. But what of Chris Kaba, the man he shot? In this episode we delve into the 24 year old’s criminal past which we weren't allowed to report during the trial.
Kaba was a member of one of South London’s most notorious and dangerous county lines drug gangs. His convictions date to when he was just 13 years old. Had he not died from the bullet fired by Martyn Blake he would have been standing trial for attempted murder himself for a shooting in a nightclub in Hackney.
Rebecca Camber, the Daily Mail’s Crime and Security Editor joins Caroline to unpack the details.
Follow us on instagram @thetrialpod
Email us [email protected]
Whatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)
Presenters: Caroline Cheetham
Guest: Rebecca Camber
Editor: Chelsey Moore
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Executive Producer: Lucy Vallance
A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sgt Martyn Blake of the Metropolitan Police has been found Not Guilty of the murder of Chris Kaba. Join Caroline Cheetham and George Odling with the very latest from The Old Bailey as the jury reach their verdict in this historic case.
In September of 2022, a 24 year old was shot through his car windscreen by a Metropolitan Police firearms officer. Chris Kaba died in hospital that night and Martyn Blake was put on trial for his murder. The CPS’s decision to prosecute led to over 300 officers handing in their gun permits.
In this episode we chart the jury’s path to returning the not guilty verdict and speak to former Chief Crown Prosecutor Nazir Afzal, about how decisions to charge are made.
Welcome to Episode 5: Not Guilty
Follow us on instagram @thetrialpod
Email us [email protected]
Whatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)
Presenters: Caroline Cheetham and George Odling
Guest: Nazir Afzal
Editor: Chelsey Moore
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Executive Producer: Lucy Vallance
A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Join Caroline Cheetham and George Odling bringing you the very latest from The Trial of Officer Blake as it nears its conclusion.
In this episode we hear the words Martyn Blake used to describe the chaotic events leading up to the gunshot that caused Chris Kaba's death. He answers questions on whether his intention was to kill and whether he was aware of this as a possible outcome. We then bring you the key moments from the closing statements made by the prosecution and defence barristers, Tom Little KC and Patrick Gibbs KC.
Welcome to Episode 4: “He’s not RoboCop”
Follow us on instagram @thetrialpod
Email us [email protected]
Whatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)
Presenters: Caroline Cheetham and George Odling
Editor: Izzy Bougeard
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Executive Producer: Lucy Vallance
A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Caroline Cheetham and George Odling are back with the very latest from The Trial of Officer Blake.
In September of 2022, a 24-year-old, father-to-be, was shot through his car windscreen by a Metropolitan Police firearms officer. Chris Kaba died in hospital that night and Martyn Blake now stands trial for murder. The CPS’s decision to prosecute led to over 300 officers handing in their gun permits.
In this episode we hear the words of Martyn Blake as he takes to the stand and defends his decision to fire the lethal shot.
Welcome to Episode 3: Why I Pulled the Trigger
Follow us on instagram @thetrialpod
Email us [email protected]
Whatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)
Presenters: Caroline Cheetham and George Odling
Editor: Izzy Bougeard
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Executive Producer: Lucy Vallance
A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In this episode Caroline and George hear evidence from the firearms officers who were on duty on the night of the shooting.
One told the jury he almost fired the shot himself because he was in fear for his life as the Audi revved its engine. Another said Martyn Blake was not angry or frustrated as has been alleged by the prosecution, and another said there were concerns there might be a shotgun inside the car.
The prosecution say Martyn Blake exaggerated the threat level and should not have fired the shot which hit Chris Kaba in the head.
Follow us on instagram @thetrialpod
Email us [email protected]
Whatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)
Presenters: Caroline Cheetham and George Odling
Editor: Alex Graham
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Executive Producer: Lucy Vallance
A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the first episode of the Trial of Officer Blake, Caroline and George have the opening to the case at the Old Bailey, and the prosecutor's claims that firearms office Martyn Blake shot Chris Kaba in the head without justification.
We hear that Chris Kaba had been trying to escape from police in his Audi Q8, but that he posed no threat when he was shot. The car was stationary and he had his hands on the steering wheel.
He died from a single gunshot and Martyn Blake, whose codename was NX121, denies the charge of murder.
Follow us on instagram @thetrialpod
Email us [email protected]
Whatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)
Presenters: Caroline Cheetham and George Odling
Editor: Alex Graham
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Executive Producer: Lucy Vallance
A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In the first episode of the Trial of Officer Blake, Caroline and George have the opening to the case at the Old Bailey, and the prosecutor's claims that firearms office Martyn Blake shot Chris Kaba in the head without justification.
We hear that Chris Kaba had been trying to escape from police in his Audi Q8, but that he posed no threat when he was shot. The car was stationary and he had his hands on the steering wheel.
He died from a single gunshot and Martyn Blake, whose codename was NX121, denies the charge of murder.
Follow us on instagram @thetrialpod
Email us [email protected]
Whatsapp us +447796657512 (start your message with ‘Trial’)
Presenters: Caroline Cheetham and George Odling
Editor: Alex Graham
Creative Director: Caroline Cheetham
Executive Producer: Lucy Vallance
A Daily Mail production. Seriously Popular.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Follow us at @thetrialpod
Email us at [email protected]
Leave a comment on Spotify or send us a voice note on WhatsApp - +447796657512 (start your message with 'Trial')
A Daily Mail Production.
Seriously Popular.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
From the publisher's feed
To access this series from the archives of The Trial, subscribe to The Crime Desk.
Members get exclusive bonus episodes every Wednesday, full access to our complete show archive, and ad-free…
Join today at thecrimedesk.com
In September 2022, during a police stop in Streatham, South London, a firearms officer shot at Chris Kaba, who had been attempting to flee from police in his Audi Q8. The shot struck Kaba in the head, resulting in his death. The officer accused of firing that shot was an officer with the codename NX121. Over a year later and the firearms officer in question was charged and later named as officer Martyn Blake. The decision to name him was controversial and led to hundreds of Met Police officers giving up their firearms permits. In this series of The Trial, George Odling and Caroline Cheetham bring you the evidence from the Old Bailey where Blake is on trial accused of murder. He denies the charge. Welcome to The Trial of Officer Blake.
The Trial goes behind the headlines of some of the biggest trials in the world. We take you into the courtroom, bringing you the detail as the evidence unfolds, examining key moments and carrying out exclusive interviews with detectives, victims, and experts.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ranked by our users in the last 21 days