Radio Jackie News banner

107.8 Radio Jackie - Bulletins aired each hour



Thursday 30 September 2021

Wayne Couzens given whole-life term for murder of Sarah Everard

 


A former Metropolitan Police Service officer was handed a whole-life prison term today for the murder of Sarah Everard.

48 year old Wayne Couzens appeared at the Old Bailey where the court heard how he kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah.

They were not known to each other.

Couzens was arrested on Tuesday, the 9th of March, over the disappearance of Sarah in Clapham.

Commissioner Cressida Dick said: “Sarah’s kidnap, rape and murder was one of the most dreadful events in the 190-year-history of the Metropolitan Police Service.

“This hearing has revealed the full brutality of this man’s crimes against Sarah.

“I am absolutely horrified that this man used his position of trust to deceive and coerce Sarah, and I know you all are too. His actions were a gross betrayal of everything policing stands for.

“What he did was unthinkable and appalling. He showed himself to be the coward he is through his lies and seeking to minimise his true responsibility for his crimes.

“Police officers are here to protect people, to be trustworthy, courageous and compassionate. His every action is the exact opposite of that.

“As the judge said, he has eroded the confidence that the public are entitled to have in the police. It is critical that every subject in this country can trust police officers when they encounter them.

“The judge went on to say he has very considerably added to the sense of insecurity that many have living in our cities, perhaps particularly women.

“I have followed this investigation very closely, I have been in court yesterday and today. I am absolutely sickened.

“Overwhelmingly, my thoughts are with Sarah, with her family and friends, her loved ones.

“He will now spend the rest of his life in prison.

I hope that will give them some small comfort.

“This man has brought shame on the Met. Speaking frankly, as an organisation we have been rocked.

“I do want to thank everyone involved in bringing him to justice, and doing so swiftly. Sarah’s courageous and dignified family and friends, the prosecution team, and all those who supported the investigation and prosecution.

“The judge recognised and commended the work of our investigators. I echo those thoughts. I saw for myself first-hand their extraordinary determination and professionalism,.

“This is the Metropolitan Police Service I know. It is capable and caring. It is full of people who are good, who work all their lives to protect others.

“I absolutely know that there are those who feel their trust in us is shaken. I recognise that in some people a precious bond of trust has been damaged.

“Our dedication to you, our public, remains undiminished.

“As Commissioner, I will do everything in my power to ensure we learn any lessons.

“I know that what happened to Sarah, and indeed what has happened to other women in London and beyond in recent times, has raised important questions about women’s safety.

“Here in the Met I commit to keep working with others to improve women’s safety and reduce the fear of violence.

“There are no words that can fully express the fury and overwhelming sadness we all feel about what happened to Sarah. I am so sorry.”

Sarah left a friend's house in Clapham at about 9pm on Wednesday, the 3rd of March. She left the property in Leathwaite Road through a back gate onto the A205 South Circular and began walking to her home address in Brixton. She did not return home.

At about 8.20pm the next day she was reported missing. On Saturday, the 6th of March, the Met’s Specialist Crime Command begain investigating her disappearance.

Extensive efforts were made to trace Sarah. On Tuesday, the 9th of March, officers obtained CCTV which showed Couzens with Sarah at approximately 9.30pm on the 3rd of March. 

He was arrested within hours at his home address on suspicion of her kidnap. The next day he was further arrested on suspicion of her murder.

Sarah was discovered on Thursday, the 11th of March, in an isolated rural area known as Hoad’s Wood, in Kent. Couzens was charged with her kidnap and murder on Friday, the 12th of March. A charge of rape was later added following forensic results.

Wayne Couzens transferred into the Met 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 Met at the time that would have changed the vetting decision.

Couzens was not subject to any misconduct proceedings during his time at the Met.

Couzens stopped being paid as a police officer immediately following his guilty pleas. This was as soon as legally possible. The MPS held an accelerated hearing following his guilty plea. He was dismissed on the 16th of July.

posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 4:23 pm  

Top of Radio Jackie News page here.

RJ Home button

One of many reasons why we are so useful to South West London... our very own news team bringing you stories that are relevant to you and your area.
If you have a press release or would like to send in news then pop off an e-mail to [email protected]

radio Jackie News Twitter
Follow Jackie News at twitter.com/jackie_news.

Listen to Jackie's latest News and Travel
Radio Jackie Latest News  Radio Jackie Latest Travel
News Team - - Local news 24 hours a day

news reader
Lucy Mayer
Lucy is the News and Travel Editor. Find out more about her on the Presenters page.

news reader
Luke Williams
Luke spends his free time playing synthesisers and watching old sitcoms. Journalism helps remind him of the 21st century.

news reader
Chloe Norman
Chloe presents both news and travel - find out more about her on the Presenters page.

news reader
Alex Loveridge
Alex loves watching tennis at Surbiton and Wimbledon and also plays a bit too. He swims at Richmond, but not in the Thames.

news reader
Mike Oban
Mike enjoys playing and watching sports and is a budding football coach.

news reader
Jacqui Kerr
Jacqui enjoys all sports and has had a go at most! She loves talking, current affairs, music, and walking her polar-bear-sized dog.

news reader
David Walker
David´s philosophy is you only live once so go out and grab every opportunity no matter how small.

news reader
John Beesley
John lives in Hounslow. He enjoys beer and singing with barbershop quartets and choruses, though not necessarily in that order.

news reader
Clare Whitehead
Clare is a playwright, an experienced voiceover artist and the narrator of several audio books. She loves dogs and ballet!

news reader
Jiji Ahn
Jiji can often be found visiting galleries, trying new cuisines and researching the latest trends and stories.

news reader
Holly Carnegie
Holly presents both news and travel - find out more about her on the Presenters page.

news reader
Alex Duke
Alex loves watching football, but also enjoys tennis and Formula One. He swims and hikes regularly and is a self-confessed history nerd.

news reader
Megan McElroy
Megan grew up in SW London and is interested in all things news.

news reader
Roshni Chouhan
Roshni loves playing tennis and everything related to music. SHe has been told she has a hidden talent mastering accents.
If you are researching a news story from the past our archive goes back over many years.
Please email [email protected] with any enquiries.