Louis de Zoysa, the Norbury man charged with the murder of Police Sergeant Mat Ratana at the Croydon Custody Centre on Windmill Road last September, faces a hearing at the Old Bailey this Friday.
Charged: Louis de Zoysa
De Zoysa, 23, has been in hospital under police guard for the last nine months since the fatal incident, in which he himself suffered a gunshot wound to the throat.
He is said to have been in “a stable, non-life threatening condition” during that time, but as a result of his wounds, he was not formally arrested by the police until November.
Scotland Yard have now said that recent changes to his condition led the Crown Prosecution Service to feel comfortable in charging him with the murder of Sgt Ratana.
De Zoysa appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning from his hospital bed via a video link. He needed to use a whiteboard to confirm his identity.
He was remanded in custody ahead of the Old Bailey hearing.
De Zoysa was not asked to enter pleas to charges of murder, possession of a prohibited firearm and possession of ammunition without a certificate.
It has been reported that at the time of the shooting, which took place in the early hours of September 25 last year, de Zoysa was an employee of Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.
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There is so much of this story we haven’t heard. Exactly how does a man, in police custody, in handcuffs, at a police station, manage to draw and fire a gun? Having already been detained, surely he’d been searched? How was De Zoysa still armed? It will be interesting to hear the full story when it comes to trial.
According to police guidance from The Commissioners office people (suspects) are not to be searched in the street.
The “why” it happened, I think, will probably not make much sense to anyone, least of all Sgt Ratana’s family who should be in all our thoughts for their loss whilst he was working to keep us safe.
There are, of course, strict legal restrictions on what may, and may not, be reported on active criminal cases, to avoid the risk of prejudicing any trial. So we will be avoiding any speculation, however well-sourced and informed, about what went on in that Croydon police station last September until it emerges as evidence in open court.