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Wayne Couzens Handed Whole Life Sentence For Murder Of Sarah Everard
Featured Image Credit: PA
Wayne Couzens has been handed a whole life sentence for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard.
The 48-year-old was a serving PC with the Metropolitan Police when he abducted Everard as she walked home in Clapham, south London, on the evening of 3 March.
Couzens had clocked off from a 12-hour shift that morning, and went on to rape and strangle the 33-year-old marketing executive.
A week after she disappeared, Everard's body was found in a woodland stream in Ashford, Kent, just metres from land owned by Couzens.
He subsequently pleaded guilty to her kidnap, rape and murder via video-link from jail in July.
His sentencing began at the Old Bailey yesterday (Wednesday 29 September) and now, Lord Justice Fulford has handed down his sentence.
The prosecution was able to show that in the lead up to 3 March, Couzens planned his offending and in the days afterwards, he attempted to conceal and cover up his crimes.
Speaking outside the Old Bailey in July, Met Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said she was 'very sorry' for the loss, pain and suffering of the Everard family.
She said: "All of us in the Met are sickened, angered and devastated by this man's truly dreadful crimes.
"Everyone in policing feels betrayed."
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has received a string of referrals relating to the Couzens case, with 12 police officers being investigated.
A separate investigation is also being conducted into whether the Met failed to investigate two allegations of indecent exposure relating to Couzens in February, just days before the killing.
Kent Police are also being investigated over their response to a third allegation of indecent exposure dating back to 2015.
Everard's murder sparked a national outcry, with protests across the nation condemning male abuse and harassment of women under the hashtag #NotAllMenButAllWomen
Sarah Everard was simply walking home.
She followed all the societal 'rules' that are unequally placed on women in order for them to ensure their own safety.
Yet, Sarah was still unsafe. She didn't make it home.#notallmenbutallwomen pic.twitter.com/fkoPkNvAmV
- Women's Aid (@womensaid) March 12, 2021
Following Everard's death, her family paid tribute to her 'shining example'.
In a statement, they said: "Sarah was bright and beautiful - a wonderful daughter and sister.
"She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour.
"She was strong and principled and a shining example to us all. We are very proud of her and she brought so much joy to our lives."
