Matt Ratana killer loses appeal against conviction and sentence

The man given a whole-life order for the murder of Metropolitan Police sergeant Matt Ratana, has lost bids to challenge his conviction and sentence at the Court of Appeal.

Sgt Ratana, 54, was shot in the chest and leg at Croydon custody centre by Louis De Zoysa, who had smuggled an antique gun into the building following his arrest on 25 September 2020.

De Zoysa was found guilty of murder, having his claim of manslaughter due to diminished responsibility rejected.

Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described Sgt Ratana as an outstanding officer who “treated everyone with respect, with compassion and with good humour”.

At a hearing earlier, De Zoysa’s barristers argued he should be allowed to challenge his conviction and sentence on the grounds that he was wrongly deemed fit to plead and stand trial, and that his sentence should not have been a whole-life order.

In a ruling, Dame Victoria Sharp, Mr Justice Goss and Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb dismissed the appeal bids.

Dame Victoria said: “All applications will be refused, for reasons which we will give in writing.”

Those written reasons will be released at a later date.