James FitzGerald
Live reporter

The key headline is that the man who shot dead Met Police officer Sgt Ratana with an antique gun will spend the rest of his days in prison, following a judge's verdict.

But the sentencing also provided an opportunity for relatives of the late policeman - a keen sportsman who was just months away from retirement age when fatally shot - to voice their grief.

Tearfully, Ratana's partner Su Bushby stood in court to say his death was the most devastating moment of her life, and that they would have been celebrating eight years together today if Ratana was still around.

You can read Harry Low's writeup of the day's events right here, and head here for an answer to that all-important question: how did a handcuffed man smuggle a gun into a custody centre in the first place?

This live coverage was produced by Malu Cursino, Rahib Khan, Michael Sheils McNamee, Emily Atkinson, Jacqueline Howard, James Harness, Emma Owen, Owen Amos and me.

As we continue our recap of today's events at Northampton Crown Court, here's a look back at the moment the judge said De Zoysa had "robbed" Ratana's family of their loved one.

Image source, Met Police

Let’s return to one of the big questions that emerged during this case: how did the murderer manage to smuggle a gun into a custody centre and shoot dead an officer while handcuffed?

Louis De Zoysa shot Sgt Matiu Ratana with an antique Colt revolver, which he had stowed in a holster under his left arm as he travelled across South London.

He was stopped by officers just after midnight, who found bullets in the duffle bag he was carrying, as well as an amount of cannabis. He was arrested on suspicion of possession of ammunition and possession of Class B drugs with intent to supply.

His person was also searched, but the gun was missed.

It is believed De Zoysa old was able to move the gun from the holster to his hands as he travelled in the vehicle, despite them still being cuffed behind his back.

The court heart that this manoeuvre was enabled by his hypermobility - in which a person's joints have an above-average range of motion.

• You can find out more here

Image source, Supplied

Following the murder conviction of Louis De Zoysa last month, Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley described Sgt Matt Ratana as an outstanding officer who "treated everyone with respect, with compassion and with good humour".

"Whether it was on the streets or in the custody centre, as a uniformed police officer, on the rugby field or later as a coach, it's clear that he was someone who made an enduring impact wherever he went," he added.

“We will ensure that he is never forgotten,” he concluded.

Now's a good chance to recap some of the reaction to Ratana's murder in 2020.

In the aftermath, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) recommended that handheld search wands - metal detectors - should be introduced in all response vehicles, as well as those used to transport detained individuals.

The IOPC said last month, external their recommendation was accepted, and the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) was exploring their implementation.

On the night of Ratana's murder, the officers who arrested De Zoysa searched the gunman’s bag and waistband, and frisked his legs, before taking him into custody. But they missed the gun that was later used to fatally shoot Sgt Ratana.

Within weeks of the crime, London’s Metropolitan Police said it had began a roll-out of hand-held search wands to all its police vehicles being used to transport suspects.

De Zoysa will have to carry out his whole-life order in Belmarsh prison, south-east London.

The sentence makes him the 65th person in prison in England and Wales under a whole-life order, meaning that he will spend the remainder of his days behind bars.

During De Zoysa’s trial, the defence team asked the jury to consider finding their client guilty of manslaughter, rather than murder - due to diminished responsibility resulting from his autism diagnosis.

We heard the judge give a fresh dismissal of these arguments today.

Diminished responsibility is a partial defence, external, the idea being a defendant should be held to a lesser charge in recognition of an abnormality of mental functioning.

To accept such a defence, a jury would have to be satisfied that the crime could be explained by a defendant's medical condition impairing their ability to:

• Understand the nature of their conduct
• Form a rational judgment
• Or exercise self-control

In De Zoysa’s case, the argument was unsuccessful and he was found guilty of murder.

In the last half-hour, Louis De Zoysa has been sentenced for the murder of Sgt Matt Ratana.

Mr Justice Johnson handed down a whole-life order, meaning De Zoysa will spend the rest of his life in prison.

There had been a question of whether De Zoysa's autism played a role in his actions that night. His defence had previously, unsuccessfully, asked the jury to consider a lesser charge of manslaughter. In sentencing, the judge said De Zoysa's autism was not to blame, telling him: "You acted in cold blood."

"You were able to think about what you would do," he went on, pointing to the 50 minutes between De Zoysa being stopped by police and the murder.

Ratana's partner, Su Bushby, wept as the sentence was handed down. She had earlier during her victim impact statement that her life had been "ripped apart" by the death of her partner, and that seeing De Zoysa every day in court had "taken its toll on me".

A warning that the video below contains violence.

Here’s some footage from the night of Sgt Ratana's death, which begins with the moment Louis De Zoysa was stopped and arrested by officers in Norbury, South London.

Under his coat is a Colt revolver – secured in a cross-body holster.

A later clip from the custody centre in nearby Croydon shows Ratana explaining to De Zoysa the conditions of his arrest.

“Stand up,” says the sergeant. De Zoysa obliges before reaching round to expose the revolver.

He then fires the fatal shots - which have today landed him a whole-life jail term.

Here's the moment a few moments ago when Louis De Zoysa was told by the judge that he could not blame his autism for shooting dead Sgt Ratana.

Image source, Metropolitan Police/PA Wire

At the centre of today’s story is Sgt Matt Ratana, a Met police officer who was fatally shot by Louis De Zoysa while on duty. De Zoysa has now been sentenced to spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder.

Sgt Ratana, who was 54 when he was killed, was said to have dedicated his life to the force. We heard in today's victim statements that he was loved by many in his community and was passionate about sport.

Image source, Met Police

Alongside his day job, Ratana was head coach at East Grinstead Rugby Football Club.

He maintained an active lifestyle, going to the gym regularly and attending weight lifting competitions alongside his friends.

Image source, Met Police

Daniel Sandford
Reporting from Northampton Crown Court

Louis De Zoysa is completely impassive as a whole life order is imposed.

Matt Ratana's partner Su Bushby weeps quietly as De Zoysa is led from the dock.

The judge imposes a whole-life order, meaning that Louis De Zoysa will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

The aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating factors, he says, and there is no justification to move away from a whole life order.

Justice Johnson is talking about how autism and De Zoysa's injuries are likely to impact on his time in prison.

"You may have less difficulty enduring loss of liberty and regime than others," he says.

"On balance, I accept you are likely to find prison more difficult" than a neurotypical prisoner.

He also acknowledges his physical injuries endured during the incident.

Having now outlined that De Zoysa's autism diagnosis did not have significant bearing on his actions of the night, Justice Johnson turns to the aggravating factors, which favour a tougher sentence.

He goes through a number of things which he says show "a degree of planning and premeditation", all occurring after De Zoysa was stopped by police.

A significant aggravating factor, the judge says, is that De Zoysa took the gun into the police station.

Our video feed of the judge has just frozen - we'll continue to bring you his remarks when we have them.

Justice Jeremy Johnson says the officers treated De Zoysa with respect, dignity and understanding.

"None of the officers gave you any reason to feel at risk of harm or threat, he adds.

Contrary to the argument of the defence, Justice Johnson says: "Your actions were voluntary. They were controlled, they were deliberate.

"You acted in cold blood."

Justice Johnson goes on to say he has considered De Zoysa's autism on his culpability.

He says that while autism did impact his social interactions, he was able to be understood.

He adds his autism did not have a bearing on his decision to kill Sgt Ratana.

Summing up his remarks, Justice Johnson says: "Autism is not to blame, you are to blame for that."

Daniel Sandford
Reporting from Northampton Crown Court

Matt Ratana's partner Su Bushby is watching the judge, listening intently.

The judge is addressing Louis De Zoysa directly, looking at him as he speaks, but Louis De Zoysa does not meet his eyes.

He's looking down, but appears to be listening.

The judge is going over the details of the case, and what happened on 25 September 2020.

He says that De Zoysa knew that he was in possession of a gun, that he knew the gun could kill, and that he tried to retrieve the gun while he was handcuffed.

"You had no lawful or good reason for the possession of the loaded gun or the cartridges," he says.

He notes it was 50 minutes between the time he was stopped, and when he shot Mr Ratana.

While in custody, "you were able to think about what you would do".

"You posed a lethal risk" not just to Ratana, but also to other officers nearby, judge says.

He says he was treated with "conspicuous compassion and kindness" on previous occasions when he was arrested.