Timeline of Chris Kaba’s life from ‘gang involvement’ to police shooting

July 22, 1999Chris Kaba was born

Chris Kaba was born on July 22, 1999, to parents Prosper Kaba and Helen Lumuanganu.

He was raised by his Congolese parents alongside his younger brothers at various homes in south east London.

Kaba was described by relatives and friends as boisterous, a comedian who could ‘light up a room’, and someone who took his younger siblings to football games.

June 2012Kaba’s life of crime begins

Chris Kaba was just 13 years old when he first had contact with the police. His first of six criminal convictions was for possession of a kitchen knife after a large fight. He was handed a youth referral order.

October 2012Kaba convicted of wounding with intent

Later that year, he was convicted of wounding with intent and sentenced to two years in a Young Offender’s Institution

2013Kaba convicted of ‘steaming’ a phone shop

Kaba was handed a youth rehabilitation order after being convicted for burglary after steaming – aka committing mass theft or shoplifting – a mobile phone shop.

August 2015Kaba convicted for gang-motivated knife attack

Kaba, aged 17 at the time, alongside three friends targeted a well-known rival who had taunted the 67 gang in rap videos.

The victim was attacked in Carphone Warehouse on Streatham High Road, suffering multiple stab wounds and a broken arm.

Kaba was convicted of affray and given a one-year training and detention order.

201667 nominated for Mobo Award

67’s rap videos had gained millions of views on YouTube, and in 2016 they were nominated for the best newcomer prize at the Music of Black Origin (Mobo) Awards.

December 30, 2017Kaba charged with imitation firearm possession

Kaba was charged with possession of a firearm in 2017 with intent to cause fear of violence. Gunshots had been fired in the Canning Town area of east London.

July 22, 2018Kaba Stabbed at music event

While celebrating his 19th birthday, Kaba was stabbed in the stomach after getting into a fight at an unlicensed music event in Romford, east London.

Medics treated his wounds, but he refused to cooperate with the police.

January 2019Kaba guilty of imitation gun possession

Kaba appeared at Snaresbrook Crown Court in January 2019 where he was found guilty of possessing an imitation firearm.

Kaba was sentenced to four years in a Young Offenders Institute.

2020Kaba released from prison – but sent back inside not long after

Kaba was released on licence in 2020, but he was sent back to prison and received an extra five months in custody in August of that year after he was stopped by police for driving without insurance.

When officers searched the vehicle, a knife was found.

April 2022Served with domestic violence protection order

Kaba was an expectant father when he died, however he had been served with a 28-day domestic violence protection order relating to the mother of his unborn child.

The order barred him from contacting her on social media or entering the street where she lived.

August 30, 2022Kaba ‘shot gang RIVAL’

In the early hours of August 30, Kaba and three others allegedly smuggled a handgun into a Notting Hill Carnival afterparty in the Oval Space nightclub in Cambridge Heath, Hackney.

Kaba is accused of shooting his 23-year-old target in the leg in the middle of the party, before following his victim out of the nightclub and shooting him again in the street.

September 4, 2022Gun attack outside primary school in Brixton

Only 24 hours before he was killed, Kaba and his gang are accused of shooting at a white Mercedes with two people inside with a shotgun.

The suspects were then seen changing their clothes and getting into two getaway cars – one of these was the Audi Q8 Kaba was driving when he was shot.

The identity of the gunman was never confirmed, but Kaba’s clothes were examined following his death, and gunshot residue was found on his sleeve. A Balaclava was also found in his pocket.

September 5, 2022Chris Kaba is killed

Blake shot Kaba through the front windscreen of an Audi Q8 in Stratham, south east London.

The car was hemmed in by police cars in Kirkstall Gardens after an officer recognised its registration number, and Kaba rammed the car forwards and backwards to try and escape.

Blake says he shot because he feared for the lives of his police colleagues.

September 20, 2023Martyn Blake charged with murder

The Crown Prosecution Service announced that it had charged Martyn Blake with murder in relation to the shooting of Chris Kaba.

At the time, Blake was referred to as ‘NX121’ and kept anonymous due to a court order.

February 2024Three men guilty over their role in nightclub shooting

Shemiah Bell, Marcus Pottinger and Connell Bamgboye, were all convicted for their roles in the nightclub shooting.

They were all cleared of attempted murder, but Pottinger and Bell were found guilty of wounding with intent, and all three were found guilty of possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence.

Prosecutors said that Kaba would have stood trial for attempted murder if he had still been alive.

March 8, 2024Martyn Blake’s name made public

Blake appeared at the Old Bailey where he pleaded not guilty to murder.

His name and age were then made public, but his picture and address are still protected.

October 2, 2024Trial begins

The trial at the Old Bailey began on October 2, and lasted about three weeks.

October 21, 2024NOT GUILTY verdict

The jury in the Martyn Blake trial returned a not guilty verdict after about three hours of deliberation.

October 22, 2024Reporting restrictions lifted

The day after Blake’s not guilty verdict was handed down, the judge lifted reporting restrictions which prevented details of Kaba’s past criminal history from being made public.

Kaba’s family unsuccessfully opposed these restrictions being lifted, saying they wanted the details to remain out of the public eye until after the inquest into his death was complete.