The London police officer arrested for the kidnapping, rape, and killing of 33-year-old Sarah Everard pleaded responsible to her homicide on Friday in a criminal offense that despatched shockwaves by means of the UK.
Wayne Couzens, the 48-year-old former Metropolitan Police officer, had already admitted to kidnapping and rape, having pleaded guilty to the costs on June 8. On the time, he additionally admitted he “was chargeable for her killing,” however didn’t enter a plea on the homicide cost, prosecutors stated.
On Friday, officers introduced Couzens had pleaded responsible to homicide and will probably be sentenced on Sept. 29.
“This plea is because of quite a lot of exhausting work by the prosecution staff,” stated Carolyn Oakley of the Crown Prosecution Service. “The police must be counseled for his or her thorough and tireless investigation into Sarah’s disappearance.”
Everard, a London-based advertising govt, disappeared on the evening of March 3 whereas strolling dwelling from a buddy’s home. Couzens was arrested days later, and Everard’s physique was present in a wooded space greater than 50 miles from the place she’d final been seen. An post-mortem revealed the reason for demise to be compression of the neck.
The younger lady’s demise set off a tidal wave of grief and anger within the UK. On-line, many ladies spoke out about gendered violence and the dearth of security they usually really feel simply going about their lives. A peaceable vigil in London held shortly after the homicide drew hundreds, however police met it with power, arresting 4 ladies and igniting even deeper fury in opposition to the identical establishment that employed Everard’s killer.
In a press conference on Friday, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick stated she and your complete police power are “sickened, angered, and devastated” by Everard’s homicide and “really feel betrayed” that it was dedicated by considered one of their very own.
“Sarah was a unbelievable, proficient younger lady along with her complete life forward of her, and that has been snatched away,” Dick stated. “She was massively cherished, and he or she will probably be sorely missed by so very many individuals.”
It’s nonetheless unknown why Couzens murdered Everard. In court docket, prosecutor Tom Little stated they’d by no means met and had been “complete strangers to one another,” based on the BBC.
He had beforehand concocted an elaborate lie to elucidate the occasions, the BBC reported, falsely claiming an Japanese European gang threatened his household and compelled him to kidnap Everard.
However the true motive for the brutal crime, if such a motive even exists, stays a thriller.
“Couzens lied to the police when he was arrested and up to now, he has refused to remark,” Oakley stated. “We nonetheless have no idea what drove him to commit this appalling crime in opposition to a stranger.”
