Police Sergeant Ratana’s Tragic Custody Death Leaves Partner Devastated: Paramedics Detail Carnage at Crime Scene
The partner of Sergeant Matt Ratana, a Metropolitan Police officer who was tragically murdered in a custody cell, has expressed her profound grief during an inquest into his death. Paramedics who arrived on the scene described the horrifying aftermath of the shooting. The incident took place on September 25, 2020, at the Croydon custody suite in south London, when 26-year-old Louis de Zoysa opened fire with a revolver.
Earlier that day, de Zoysa had been arrested and searched, but the police officers failed to discover the gun he was carrying. He shot Sergeant Ratana before turning the weapon on himself, inflicting a severe brain injury that has rendered him unable to speak.
Sergeant Ratana’s partner emotionally recounted, Hearing of his death ripped through my body and I was overwhelmed with grief. She further shared the immense impact the loss has had on her life, stating, It has left me in a state of limbo, I’ve not been able to get on with my life. The devastating loss has led to insomnia, anxiety, and depression, and she expressed how much she misses him and the indescribable pain she feels.
An emergency ambulance worker, in a written statement read at the inquest, described the desperate efforts made to save Sergeant Ratana’s life. The scene was characterized as one of carnage, and despite their best efforts, ambulance workers were unable to revive him. The officer’s gunshot wound was described as oozing blood, and a helicopter ambulance was dispatched to the scene. Tragically, Sergeant Ratana’s time of death was recorded at 4.10am.
During the hearing, Imran Khan KC, representing de Zoysa, requested an adjournment due to the denial of legal funding for the 26-year-old. Khan argued that his client, who can only communicate using a whiteboard and has mobility issues, would be unable to effectively participate in the hearing. However, the request was rejected. De Zoysa had already been sentenced to a whole life jail term for the murder of Sergeant Ratana earlier this year. De Zoysa’s legal team had argued during the trial that he was experiencing an autistic meltdown at the time of the shooting.
The tragic death of Sergeant Ratana and the subsequent legal proceedings have left a profound impact on those involved. The inquest has uncovered the devastating consequences of a series of failures that resulted in this horrific incident. The loss of a dedicated police officer has caused immeasurable pain to his partner and loved ones, highlighting the risks faced by those who choose to serve and protect their communities. As the inquest continues, it remains crucial to address the systemic issues that contributed to this tragedy, ensuring that lessons are learned and improvements made to prevent such devastating events from occurring in the future.
