A 25-year-old man has denied the murder of Met Police Sergeant Matthew Ratana, who was shot dead inside Croydon police station in 2020.

Louis De Zoysa held up a whiteboard with not guilty written on it to enter his plea via a video-link to a hospital and will now face trial on June 6.

Sgt Ratana, 54, from Goring, died after suffering a fatal wound to the chest at Croydon custody centre in south London on September 25, 2020.

De Zoysa, who appeared on the video-link in a wheelchair and with his right arm in a sling, also wrote on a whiteboard to confirm his name and date of birth at the start of a hearing on Friday at Northampton Crown Court.

Prosecutors allege Sergeant Ratana was shot while De Zoysa was handcuffed during an incident in which he also sustained a gunshot wound.

De Zoysa, from Banstead, Surrey, was remanded in custody until his trial which is expected to last for around three weeks.

The loss of Sgt Ratana was felt deeply by his colleagues in the police service and by the community in Sussex.

In 2021 he was honoured at the National Police Memorial Day in Lincoln while a minute’s silence was held in London on the same day, a year exactly since his death.

East Grinstead Rugby Football Club where Sgt Ratana was head coach also held a memorial service.

In July of the same year the rugby club unveiled a memorial silhouette for Sgt Ratana.

His partner Su Bushby spoke of his passion for his “beloved game” and his “compassion for East Grinstead Rugby Club and the players”.

"I am filled with so much pride and honour to be here, but that also comes with a sense of mourning and deep sorrow that Matt is not with us today and that cannot be forgotten,” she said.

“However, we are here to celebrate Matt’s life and achievements and I am absolutely delighted to be part of this commemoration."

The “inspiring coach” was also nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year category of Unsung Hero by East Grinstead Rugby Club.

Following his death, the rugby club began a campaign asking people to nominate their coach for the Unsung Hero 2020 award, which was successful.