Matt Ratana shooting: Police officer’s partner pays tribute to her ‘gentle giant’ with ‘infectious smile’
Written by News on 28/09/2020
The partner of Matt Ratana, the police sergeant who died after being shot inside a custody centre, has paid tribute to her “gentle giant”.
In a statement, Su Bushby said: “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.”
On Sunday, Sky News revealed the name of the man that shot Sgt Ratana last week as 23-year-old Louis De Zoysa.
The suspect, who remains in hospital in a critical condition and has therefore not been spoken to by detectives, is from Norbury, south London.
Sgt Ratana, 54, was allegedly attacked by the man, who was handcuffed and who investigators say then shot himself. No police weapons were fired and the case is not being treated as terror-related.
A man in Norwich has been arrested in connection with the incident, on suspicion of supplying a firearm.
Sgt Ratana was originally from Hawke’s Bay on New Zealand’s North Island, but had served in the Metropolitan Police for much of his career.
He is the eighth officer in the UK to be shot dead in the last 20 years.
Friends and teammates of the officer, who was a popular head coach at East Grinstead Rugby Club, gathered in tribute over the weekend to the “irreplaceable” and “incredibly generous” man.
His cousin Adrian Rurawhe described him as an “awesome person” who “loved being a police officer”.
Dame Cressida added: “He was very well known locally. And he will be remembered so fondly in Croydon and missed there, as well as in the Met and the rugby world.”
(c) Sky News 2020: Matt Ratana shooting: Police officer’s partner pays tribute to her ‘gentle giant’ with ‘infectious smile’
