Su Bushby, the partner of late police sergeant Matt Ratana, who was tragically murdered in a custody cell by a handcuffed prisoner, is taking legal action against the Metropolitan Police, citing “failures” that could have prevented the devastating incident.
Ratana, serving with the Metropolitan Police, was fatally shot on September 25, 2020, by Louis de Zoysa, an autistic individual who concealed an antique revolver and opened fire at Croydon custody suite in south London.
Despite being arrested and searched earlier, officers failed to uncover the weapon hidden in an underarm holster by the 26-year-old de Zoysa, who was found with bullets in his pocket.
Metropolitan Police Officer (9credits: The Mirror)
A coroner’s conclusion in November determined Ratana’s death as an unlawful killing, attributing it to a deficient search conducted by his colleagues.
Su Bushby, Ratana’s partner, aged 47, is pursuing legal action against Scotland Yard, highlighting the belief that Ratana might have survived if a thorough search had been conducted.
She asserted that the inadequate search compromised Ratana’s safety, expressing devastation over the revealed failures during the inquest.
The custody van footage showed de Zoysa readjusting the firearm into his hands before arriving at Croydon’s Windmill Road custody center. He managed to fire shots at Ratana after surreptitiously moving his handcuffed arms from behind his back.
Policeman (Credits: auf gsi News)
Ratana, a veteran of nearly 30 years with the Met, was struck by multiple bullets and tragically succumbed to his injuries. De Zoysa, who suffered self-inflicted injuries during the incident, was sentenced to life imprisonment for Ratana’s murder.
The incident has prompted scrutiny of police procedures and calls for accountability over perceived negligence in ensuring officer safety.
Su Bushby’s legal action seeks to address the systemic failures that contributed to Ratana’s tragic death, emphasizing the need for accountability and reform within law enforcement practices to prevent similar incidents in the future.
