Gunman who shot dead cop Matt Ratana in custody suite while handcuffed using antique revolver is jailed
A GUNMAN who shot dead a cop inside a custody suite in the first-ever killing of its kind has today been jailed for life.
Louis de Zoysa, 25, was still handcuffed when he pulled out a hidden antique revolver and fired four shots.
Sergeant Matt Ratana, 54, was blasted two times during the horror at Croydon Custody Centre on September 25, 2020.
The third bullet struck a wall, with the fourth hitting De Zoysa in the face causing brain damage.
De Zoysa, who now uses a wheelchair and has a whiteboard to communicate, has today been jailed for life.
He was convicted of murder last month after just over five hours of deliberation.
Chilling footage played to jurors showed the killer pulling out the gun inside the custody suite before firing into Sgt Ratana’s chest.
Two other officers then wrestle De Zoysa to the ground as a third bullet hits the wall of the cell.
The bodycam footage shows the cops continuing to grapple with the killer as they attempt to Taser him.
In the 16 seconds after the third shot was heard, De Zoysa blasted himself in the face.
The gunman had been stopped by police in Norbury, South London, at 1.30am.
Officers arrested him after finding cannabis and several bullets but the gun was not discovered during the stop-and-search.
The revolver was likely concealed in a holster “under one of his armpits”, the court was told.
Tragically, Sgt Ratana had moved to work in custody because it was safer before his killing.
The cop, who had served with the Met since 1991, was the first ever officer to be killed inside a British police station.
Imran Khan KC, defending, claimed De Zoysa said he was suffering an autistic meltdown at the time and “did not mean to or want to kill Sgt Ratana, or to cause him really serious harm”.
But prosecutors argued he “pulled the trigger on purpose four times” while he was handcuffed in the holding room.
De Zoysa had bought the antique revolver legally at an online auction in June 2020.
Although bullets to fit the gun are no longer available, he bought parts to make the equipment and manufactured them at home in Banstead, Surrey.
Sgt Ratana had tragically been planning to propose to his partner of six years Su Bushby when he was killed.
Speaking after the verdict previously, emotional Su paid tribute to her partner.
She said: “Today is about justice for Matt. His life was taken too soon in the line of duty doing a job that he loved – a cruel end to a lifetime of service and dedication protecting others.”
“Whilst the court case has concluded, the constant feeling of grief and loss continues.
“My love for Matt, my gentle giant, will never end. He will never be forgotten.”