Suspect charged with murder of shot Met Police officer Sgt Matt Ratana ‘may never stand trial’

A man accused of the murder of police officer Sgt Matt Ratana, who was shot dead in a holding cell, may not stand trial, a court heard.

No decision has yet been made about whether Louis De Zoysa, 24, who is accused of killing the 54-year-old custody sergeant, is fit to enter a plea.

De Zoysa is accused of killing the New Zealand-born cop after he was stopped and searched in south London in the early hours of September 25, 2020.

He did not appear during a brief administrative hearing at the Old Bailey on Wednesday, March 2, and has not yet entered any pleas to murder, possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition.

Duncan Penny QC, prosecuting, said psychiatrist Dr Nigel Blackwood had said he should be fit to plead at a later date.

No decision could be taken until an intermediary had also been spoken to.

He said: "Dr Blackwood's report says that, in all likelihood, he will be fit to plead in respect of this case."

The judge, Recorder of London Mark Lucraft, fixed a case management hearing for April 1, and his time in custody was extended until June 17.

A trial date has not yet been fixed.

It is claimed De Zoysa, from Norbury, Croydon, was taken to Croydon Custody Centre and put in a cell.

Sgt Ratana was shot dead when he began a search on De Zoysa, it is alleged.

Sgt Ratana, who was born in New Zealand, moved to the UK in 1989 and had served in the Metropolitan Police for almost 30 years.