Sgt Matt Ratana's partner pays tribute to her 'gentle giant'
The partner of Sgt Matt Ratana, the police officer shot dead inside a police station, paid tribute to her “gentle giant” yesterday as a minute’s silence was held in the House of Commons.
Su Bushby said there were no words to describe how she was feeling in the aftermath of Sgt Ratana's tragic murder at Croydon Custody Centre.
“I know Matt touched many, many people’s lives with his friendliness, patience, kindness, enthusiasm and caring ways,” she said.
“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.”
As MPs fell silent to pay their respects to Sgt Ratana, Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle, sent their condolences to his family.
Louis de Zoysa, the 23-year-old suspected of killing the custody sergeant in the early hours of last Friday morning, remains in hospital in a critical condition after wounding himself in the melee.
His profile in a school yearbook, which emerged yesterday, described him as being “very clever” and “good with weapons.”
The entry depicts a 16-year-old De Zoysa in his school uniform as he finished year 11 at John Fisher School, a Roman Catholic boys' comprehensive in Purley, South London.
Police continue to search various locations connected to the killing, including De Zoysa’s family home in Norbury, south London, where he lived with his parents and four siblings.
The family has been described by neighbours as “troubled”.
A man arrested in Norwich on Sunday on suspicion of supplying a firearm connected to the incident remains in custody.
