Old Bailey jury took just 16 mins to clear police officer Martyn Blake of murdering gangster Chris Kaba

AN Old Bailey jury took just 16 minutes to clear armed officer Martyn Blake of murdering gangster Chris Kaba.

But jurors then took a long lunch break before returning their verdict, sources said.

The rapid judgment following a three-week trial raises further questions about the decision by the CPS to prosecute Sgt Blake, 41, over the shooting.

Critics claimed the Met officer, who shot Mr Kaba, 24, through a car windscreen in South London in September 2022, was made a scapegoat to appease politicians.

The official length of time given for which the jury deliberated their verdict was three hours and 24 minutes — which included the lunch break.

But until now the length of the break had not been known.

The source said: “In reality the jury took just 16 minutes to unanimously decide Sgt Blake was not guilty of murder.”

Former Met armed officer Tony Long said: “The speed in which the jury reached their verdict makes the decision to prosecute Martyn even more incredible.

“It makes it clearer that this prosecution should never have been brought.”

Mr Long, who was himself cleared of murdering a gangster in 2014, added: “The CPS have to review their decision.”