A man accused of fatally shooting a police sergeant while handcuffed has appeared in court.
Louis De Zoysa, 25, allegedly killed Metropolitan Police custody sergeant Matt Ratana in the early hours of September, 25, 2020.
Sgt Ratana, 54, from Goring, died from a wound to the chest after the incident in Croydon custody centre. Tributes were paid to him as “inspiring” and a “much loved colleague” at the time of his death.
De Zoysa is said to have discharged four bullets while in a holding cell which hit Sgt Ratana and also injured himself.
Today De Zoysa, formerly from Banstead, Surrey, appeared at the Old Bailey via a video link from custody.
The defendant was in a wheelchair, wore a fawn-coloured turtleneck sweater and had his right arm in a blue sling.
Asked to confirm his name, De Zoysa wrote it down on a white board using his left hand and held it up to the screen.
He was not asked to enter pleas to charges of murder, possession of prohibited firearms and possession of firearms and ammunition without a certificate.
Sgt Ratana, who was originally from New Zealand, joined the Metropolitan Police in 1991.
He was also a well-known figure in the local rugby community as head coach of East Grinstead RFC at the time of his death.
He also served as head coach of Worthing Azurians and Knights until 2017.
Following Sgt Ratana’s death, his partner Su Bushby described him as a “gentle giant”.
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In a tribute, she said: “Matt was my partner, friend, confidant, support and soulmate.
“He will be greatly missed but never forgotten. Matt will always be in my head and in my heart.”
At a memorial service, former Met commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said: “As with all our fallen colleagues, we will never forget Matt and we will continue to honour his legacy, which will live on through his family, his many friends and colleagues in the Met, in his rugby foundation and beyond.”
De Zoysa was remanded in custody and faces a three-week trial from June 6, at Northampton Crown Court.
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