Sgt Ratana, a New Zealand-born officer nearing retirement, was fatally shot in September 2020 by Louis De Zoysa, who had been arrested and searched but still managed to conceal a gun.
The inquest, which concluded with a verdict of unlawful killing, identified a failure in conducting a safe, thorough, and systematic search. De Zoysa was able to reposition the handcuffed arms to fire at Sgt Ratana.
Bushby expressed her devastation over the multiple failures that led to Ratana's vulnerability and death, emphasizing the need for improvements in searches and security at police stations.
De Zoysa is serving a whole-life jail term for the murder, with his legal team citing an autistic meltdown during the shooting. The Met Police acknowledged that the search could have been more systematic and should have discovered the firearm.
Deputy Assistant Commissioner Stuart Cundy recognized the bravery of the officers who later disarmed De Zoysa and paid tribute to Sgt Ratana’s legacy.