Murdered cop’s rugby club teammates pay tribute to him at scene of death

MEMBERS of murdered cop Matt Ratana’s rugby club paid emotional tributes to him at the scene of his death yesterday.

Players and coaches from East Grinstead Rugby Club, West Sussex, attended Croydon Custody Centre in South London and laid flowers outside the building.

A New Zealand flag for Kiwi-born Sgt Ratana was also seen.

New Zealand Rugby tweeted: “Rest In Peace Sergeant Matt.”

Sgt Ratana tragically died after being shot in the chest as he was booking a suspect in over alleged possession of ammunition and dealing cannabis.

The suspect, 23, pulled the revolver from his trousers while cuffed behind his back and fired at Sgt Ratana before two other cops jumped on him.

Earlier the suspect had been stopped and searched by two special constables close to a community centre in a crime hotspot.

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The suspect was arrested outside Anderson Heights, Norbury, as he walked towards Streatham at about 1.44am on Friday, September 25.

He was taken to the custody centre in Windmill Lane where he remained handcuffed until a door was opened for him to be searched with a metal detector.

The 23-year-old, thought to be Sri Lankan with "extremist views", pulled the weapon out and fired.