PC Wayne Couzens, 48, guilty of kidnap and rape of Sarah Everard
PC Wayne Couzens, 48, pleads guilty to kidnap and rape of Sarah Everard and ‘accepts responsibility for her killing’ but was not asked to enter murder plea – as victim’s family sit in court to hear serving Met officer’s admissions
- Marketing executive went missing as she walked home in London on March 3
- Police investigation launched and body found a week later in woodland in Kent
- Serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens charged with her kidnap and murder
PC Wayne Couzens, 48, this morning said he had had kidnapped and raped Sarah Everard and was responsible for her death.
The serving Metropolitan Police officer told the hushed Old Bailey, watched by the young woman’s grieving family, he was guilty of abducting and a later sex attack on her.
Sarah was snatched from the street as she was walking home towards Brixton on March 3.
The marketing worker, who grew up in York and lived in Brixton, was seen on a doorbell camera at around 9pm walking along Poynders Road towards Tulse Hill.
CCTV caught her alone at quarter past nine and again at 9.28pm, before she was seen on the camera of a marked police car at 9.32pm.
Then at around 9.35pm, a bus camera captured two figures on Poynders Road and a white Vauxhall Astra with its hazard lights flashing.
Footage from another bus caught the same car with both front doors open.
The vehicle was later confirmed to have been hired from Dover after police caught its registration number and traced it as it left London for Kent.
A major Metropolitan Police investigation was launched and her body was found a week later in woodland in Kent.
Couzens had not been due before court until next month but appeared this morning at the Old Bailey via videolink.
Count three of murder, has not been put to the defendant. Medical reports are still pending on the case.
Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, went missing as she walked home from a friend’s house in Clapham, South London, on March 3
Serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens (above), 48, from Deal, Kent, had been charged with the kidnap and murder of Miss Everard.
Sarah’s family leave the Old Bailey today after hearing Couzens make his two guilty pleas
A number of areas were searched in Clapham as police tried to look for missing Sarah
His lawyer Jim Sturman QC said: ‘Responsibility for the killing is also admitted.’
During the videolink Couzens sat with his head bowed, only repeating ‘guilty sir’ when charges were put to him.
Sarah’s family were in court for the 20-minute hearing and saw him make his pleas.
He will return to court next month on July 9 when he is expected to answer the murder charge.
A provisional date for his murder trial is still set for October.
CCTV footage of Sarah Everard captured earlier on the night she was kidnapped in March
An handout photo made available by the Metropolitan Police of Sarah Everard
Wayne Couzens admitted the kidnap and rape of Sarah and takes responsibility for her death
Sarah’s death prompted a vigil in her memory to be held in London near where she vanished
Police officers clash with people as they form a gathering in Clapham Common, South London, after the Reclaim These Streets vigil for Sarah Everard was officially cancelled on March 13
Sarah’s body was found hidden in an area of woodland in Ashford, Kent, inside a large builder’s bag and was formally identified through her dental records.
Couzens is a member of the elite Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection squad – a role that entitled him to carry a firearm and a Metropolitan Police warrant card.
Formed in 2015, the unit is responsible for the protection of government owned buildings and embassies as well as ministers and visiting heads of state.
As part of his armed duties protecting MPs and dignitaries, Couzens has provided static security for major public events attended by senior members of the Royal Family.
All police recruits undergo careful vetting to check whether they have a criminal record when they join the force. To be accepted into the elite Westminster armed unit, officers must face rigorous tests and firearms training.
Scotland Yard has referred itself to the police watchdog over the arrest of its own officer and separately over the force’s actions after Miss Everard was reported missing.
It was previously revealed Miss Everard spent a quarter of an hour on the phone making plans to see her boyfriend Josh Lowth the following day, before her mobile was either switched off or ran out of battery.
Mr Lowth, 33, whose LinkedIn says he is Marketing Director at MA Exhibitions, later raised the alarm to police when she failed to meet him as she had arranged, her aunt confirmed.
