The cop who shot and killed Chris Kaba has been released on bail after a hearing at the Old Bailey in London on Thursday.

He answered “yes” when asked by the court clerk if he is NX121, and passed a piece of paper to court staff with his date of birth on it.

Recorder of London Mark Lucraft KC told the Metropolitan Police officer that a plea and trial preparation hearing will be listed for 1 December. He said 9 September next year was a possible trial date. 

NX121 was then released on bail. He had earlier appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Thursday morning.

His barrister, Patrick Hill, was asked to confirm the defendant’s identity and the officer did not speak.

Chris Kaba’s parents and other relatives were in the public gallery of the court for the hearing. One woman left the courtroom in tears. The police killed the 24 year-old with a shot through the windscreen of a car in Streatham Hill, south London, in September last year.

In the moments before the shooting, Chris had turned into Kirkstall Gardens and collided with a marked police car.

The officer fired one shot that passed through the windscreen of the Audi that Chris was driving and hit him in the head.

The officer has not not been named after an application for anonymity was granted. A hearing will take place at the Old Bailey on Friday of next week to discuss lifting the anonymity order.