A Court case is to begin in Summer for a Met Police officer who has been charged
with the kidnap and murder of 33-year-old Marketing Executive Sarah Everard.
Criminal proceedings are under way but, with the justice system under huge
pressures to move along the massive backlog, we ask the question to how long
might it be before a trial can take place?
We took a look into the lives of those involved and to see the face behind the
uniform from whom are supposed to make us as the British public feel safe.
On March 3 rd , 2021, Sarah Everard left the home of a friend she had visited to take
the 2.5mile walk home, but after 9:30pm she was never to be seen returning
home and she was reported missing by her boyfriend.
She was last captured at 9.30pm from a doorbell camera, which saw Sarah
walking alone, along the A205 Poynders road, from the junction at Cavendish
Road, towards Tulse Hill, which lies south of Brixton.
Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said that the arrest of a serving police officer
on suspicion of murder had caused anger both within the Met and with the
general public.
As is usual, because one of its own has been arrested, the Met referred itself to
the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) as well as its in-house
Directorate of Professional Standards.
Both are responsible for investigating complaints about the professional conduct
of officers.
The IOPC has also launched an investigation into the Met’s initial handling of the
missing person investigation.
Wayne Couzens – The face behind the uniform
The man in question, a serving Metropolitan Police Officer in his 40s, named
locally as Wayne Couzens, has been arrested at his property in Dover on suspicion
of kidnap and later murder of Sarah Everard.
Mr Couzens, who works with the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection
Command was arrested originally arrested on suspicion of kidnap but later
charged with the kidnapping and murder of Sarah Everard and will be remanded
until his trial later this Summer.
Couzens has also been held on reports of indecent exposure but further reports
will be looked into regarding the matter.
All such proceedings start at the magistrate level, where a defendant confirms
personal details such as their name, date of birth and where they live. Serious
crimes, known as indictable offences, are always sent up to crown court.
The 48-year-old will then appear at crown court – most likely the Central Criminal
Court in London, which is better known as the Old Bailey.
Who is Sarah Everard?
Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old Marketing Executive graduated from the University of
Durham before moving down south into London.
Sarah lived in Brixton after moving down south. She has been described by her
friends and family as popular, beautiful, strong, and incredibly kind.
The CCTV that led to the arrest
A CCTV breakthrough has led to arrests in the suspected abduction and murder of
Sarah Everard, it is claimed.
According to reports, footage captured by a passing London bus led to the arrests
in Kent on Tuesday 9th March.
A motorist’s dash-cam is also said to have captured a car that is linked to the
suspect.
Both the footage of the bus camera and that of the motorist’s dash-cam have said
to have aided in the arrest of the two current suspects.
Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, was arrested alongside an
unnamed woman in her 30s in connection with Sarah’s disappearance. The
woman in question has since been released on bail.
According to sources, it has been claimed that Couzens had worked a relief shift
at the American Embassy in Nine Elms, south west London until 8pm of the night
Ms Everard went missing.
The investigation into Sarah’s murder continues and later reports will emerge. It is
being asked that anyone with any information into the kidnap and murder of
Sarah, if anyone has any knowledge they are urged to come forward to help aid
the investigation.
