Friday, 9 July 2021
Cressida Dick issues statement after police constable pleads guilty to murder of Sarah Everard
A serving police constable has pleaded guilty to the murder of Sarah Everard.
48
year old Wayne Couzens appeared at the Old Bailey today where he admitted
murder.
He
had already pleaded guilty to the kidnap and rape of 33 year old Sarah, at a
hearing last month. They were not known to each other.
Couzens
was arrested on Tuesday, the 9th of March, over the disappearance of
Sarah on Wednesday, the 3rd of March, in Clapham.
Commissioner
Cressida Dick said: “My thoughts and those of everyone in the Met Police
are with Sarah’s loved ones. It is not possible for any of us to begin to
imagine what they have been going through. I am so sorry.
“I
was able to speak to them earlier today and said to them how very sorry I am
for their loss and their pain and their suffering.
“All
of us in the Met are sickened, angered and devastated by this man’s truly
dreadful crimes. Everyone in policing feels betrayed.
“Sarah
was a fantastic, talented young women with her whole life ahead of her and that
has been snatched away. She was hugely loved and she will be sorely missed by
so many people.
“Ever
since Sarah went missing, the sole priority of my investigation team, the
search team and hundreds of others in the Met was to find Sarah and bring the
person who has committed this terrible crime to justice as swiftly as possible.
“We
are hugely indebted to Sarah’s family, friends and so many members of the
public who helped the investigation in every single way they could, not least
by making appeals and giving us information.
“No
words can adequately express the profound sadness and anger and regret everyone
in the Met what happened to Sarah.
“Today
as every day our thoughts are with Sarah with her family, with her loved ones
and they always will be.”
Wayne Couzens transferred into the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS), from the
Civil Nuclear Constabulary (CNC), in September 2018.
His
first posting was to South Area, serving initially in a Safer Neighbourhood
Team, before joining a response team covering the Bromley area in February
2019.
He
then moved to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command in February
2020 where his primary role was to patrol diplomatic premises, mainly
embassies.
Following
his arrest, a review confirmed he passed vetting processes. The checks
confirmed there was no information available to the MPS at the time that would
have changed the vetting decision.
Couzens
was not subject to any misconduct proceedings during his time at the MPS.
Couzens
stopped being paid as a police officer immediately following his earlier guilty
pleas. This was as soon as legally possible. Internal misconduct procedures are
now being progressed.
Couzens
was remanded into custody. He will next appear at the Old Bailey to be
sentenced on Wednesday, the 29th of September.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 9:00 pm
