A MAN today denied murdering a cop who was shot dead inside a custody suite.
Sergeant Matt Ratana, 54, died after being blasted four times during a search at Croydon Custody Centre on September 25, 2020.
The cop, who had served with the Met since 1991, was the first ever officer to be killed inside a British police station.
Louis de Zoysa appeared at Northampton Crown Court via videolink from his hospital bed today.
He was left fighting for life in hospital with brain damage after allegedly shooting himself.
The 25-year-old, who sat in a wheelchair with his arm in a sling, entered a not guilty plea to murder using a whiteboard.
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De Zoysa will now face trial at the same court on June 6.
He was handcuffed when he allegedly fired four bullets from his holding cell.
The first hit Sgt Ratana, while the forth hit De Zoysa in the neck, causing his injuries.
Sgt Ratana had tragically been planning to propose to his partner of six years Su Bushby when he was killed.
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She previously paid tribute to the hero cop, saying: "There aren’t really any words for how I am feeling right now about the loss of Matt; about losing someone I loved and was so close to in such a tragic manner.
“I know Matt touched many, many people’s lives with his friendliness, patience, kindness, enthusiasm and caring ways.
“I had the pleasure of sharing five years of my life with this lovely man – my gentle giant, with his infectious smile and big heart. I think of him with tenderness and love.
“Matt was my partner, friend, confidant, support and soul mate.
“He will be greatly missed but never forgotten. Matt will always be in my head and in my heart."
Sgt Ratana had moved to work in custody because it was safer before the tragedy.
The officer had served with the Met Police since 1991 and worked in Croydon from 2015.
Pals said Sgt Ratana, dad to a grown-up son dreamed of travelling Europe on his motorbike then coaching at his rugby club in Sussex.
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