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 against the law 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 accountable for her killing,” however didn’t enter a plea on the homicide cost, prosecutors mentioned.
On Friday, officers introduced Couzens had pleaded responsible to homicide and shall be sentenced on Sept. 29.
“This plea is because of an excessive amount of arduous work by the prosecution staff,” mentioned Carolyn Oakley of the Crown Prosecution Service. “The police needs to be counseled for his or her thorough and tireless investigation into Sarah’s disappearance.”
Everard, a London-based advertising and marketing government, disappeared on the evening of March 3 whereas strolling residence from a good friend’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 pressure, arresting 4 ladies and igniting even deeper fury towards the identical establishment that employed Everard’s killer.
In a press conference on Friday, Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick mentioned she and all the police pressure are “sickened, angered, and devastated” by Everard’s homicide and “really feel betrayed” that it was dedicated by certainly one of their very own.
“Sarah was a implausible, proficient younger lady together with her complete life forward of her, and that has been snatched away,” Dick mentioned. “She was massively liked, and she or he shall be sorely missed by so very many individuals.”
It’s nonetheless unknown why Couzens murdered Everard. In court docket, prosecutor Tom Little mentioned that they had by no means met and had been “complete strangers to one another,” in line with the BBC.
He had beforehand concocted an elaborate lie to clarify the occasions, the BBC reported, falsely claiming an Jap 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 so far, he has refused to remark,” Oakley mentioned. “We nonetheless have no idea what drove him to commit this appalling crime towards a stranger.”
