Chris Kaba jury wanted to make public statement but were gagged by judge who ruled their note must not be made public

The jury in the trial of the police marksman who shot Chris Kaba dead was blocked by the judge from making a public statement on the case, it has emerged.

Martyn Blake was cleared at the Old Bailey on Monday of murdering the 24-year-old during a police stop in Streatham, South London, on September 5, 2022.

Before the jury delivered its not guilty verdict, members had sent a note to Mr Justice Goss asking for permission to also pass comment but this was denied.

Following speculation about what the jury might have said, the media, supported by a lawyer for Mr Kaba’s family, asked the judge to release the note – but he refused.

Mystery therefore surrounds what the jury wanted to say – and whether the note actually contained a statement, or just a request for permission to say something.