Metropolitan police officer Wayne Couzens has been charged for the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard. He appears in court for the said charge. He was wearing a grey tracksuit as he arrives for the court brief hearing.
The police officer was arrested this Tuesday. Wayne, 48, has appeared in the court and only spoke to authorize his name, date of birth and address in the court briefing. Sarah Everard, 33, was disappeared while walking from Clapham to Brixton in South London. The event happened last week. MrCouzens has been also been charged with the kidnapping of Ms Everard.
A week later, the body of Everard was located in Woodland, Ashford, Kent, Westminster Magistrate Court collected.
There was a wound on his head when he appears at the court. While he only confirmed the name, date of birth and address he spoke gently and quietly.
Paul Goldspring, Chief Magistrate, remanded Wayne in custody to appear in the court again at the Old Baily. The next hearing is scheduled for March 16.
Wayne Couzens has been in service with the police force since September 2018. He has mostly been serving in Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command. This is a specified armed unit for the protection of embassies and Parliamentary estates in London.
He said that he was on duty at the time of the disappearance of Sarah Everard. His duties include uniformed patrol of diplomatic buildings and Scotland Yard.
The court brief includes the hearing that the body of Ms Everard was wrapped inside a “builder’s bag”. The identification of the body was difficult. It was identified by dental records. She has been labelled as a kind, beautiful and thoughtful lady.
Wayne has been carried to the hospital again on Friday, in Kent, in the time of 48 hours, for the treatment of a head injury. He suffered another head injury in custody. He was taken to the hospital before taking him back to the police station.
Formerly he was taken to hospital for the treatment of a wound on the head that was separate from this. It was on Thursday. Despite the wound and injury, he has been kept in a cell alone.
A met police officer says that he was discharged the same day and returned to custody. He was provided with first aid immediately and the officers monitored him.
Nick Ephgrave, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner, gives tribute to the family and friends of Wayne Couzens for their “fortitude and forbearance” during the last days of investigation. The investigation has been supported by hundreds of officers and colleagues across the Met in Kent Police.
Assistant Commissioner also thanks all others from the public who supported the investigation with the information. The public has been encouraged to come with useful information to share and support the investigation.
Sarah Everard was a marketing executive, belonged to York originally. She got missing on Wednesday when she walked to her home. She had been at a friend’s house in Leathwaite Road around 9 PM. She was the last sight in the camera on the doorbell just after 9:30 PM.
