A man accused of murdering Metropolitan Police custody sergeant Matiu Ratana has told a jury he felt 'sad' that the officer died.
A man accused of murdering Metropolitan Police custody sergeant Matiu Ratana has told a jury he felt "sad" the officer died.
As he began giving evidence at Northampton Crown Court, Mr De Zoysa sat in a wheelchair in the well of the courtroom with a small whiteboard and marker on the desk in front of him which he is using because of communication difficulties, jurors have heard. The court heard the first and second shots hit Sgt Ratana, the third hit the wall during a struggle with officers and a fourth hit the defendant.Mr De Zoysa told the court he is autistic and would regularly get stressed out, leading him to punch chairs and walls.He later wrote the word "coke" on his whiteboard before adding: "He is a criminal. He used to be a drug dealer."
Mr De Zoysa told the court in a separate incident he hit his father on the head using a metal rod out of "panic" which he said was "possibly" caused by his autism.
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