Sarah Everard news latest – Wayne Couzens remanded in custody after appearing in court on murder and kidnap charges
WAYNE Couzens will appear at the Old Bailey next week after being remanded in custody on kidnap and murder charges following the death of Sarah Everard.
The gun cop, who joined the Met Police in 2018, appeared in the dock in person at Westminster Magistrates' Court this morning.
Flanked by two police officers, Couzens sat with his head in his hands while wearing a grey jumper. He was remanded in custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on March 16.
The 33-year-old had been walking home from Clapham last week when she vanished sparking a huge manhunt.
Armed cop Wayne Couzens, 48, has also been arrested over a separate incident of indecent exposure.
Follow our live blog below for the latest developments in the case…
- Joseph Gamp
GOVERNMENT URGED TO CLARIFY LAW AFTER VIGIL FOR SARAH EVERARD WAS CANCELLED
The Government has been urged to clarify the law on protests during the coronavirus pandemic after a vigil for Sarah Everard in south London was cancelled.
Labour's Harriet Harman, who chairs the Joint Committee on Human Rights, led the calls after Reclaim These Streets said they felt the event could not go ahead despite attempts to work with the police to ensure it could proceed safely.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "We have said previously that the law on this should be made clearer.
"The relationship between the Human Rights Act and its protection of freedom of association and the new Covid regulations has not been clearly spelt out.
"The police's response to do a blanket ban, to say we can treat everybody equally by stopping all freedom of associations, is not the right way to go about it."
- Joseph Gamp
SARAH EVERARD VIGIL ORGANISER SAYS MOVEMENT WILL 'ONLY GROW BIGGER'
The organiser of an online vigil for Sarah Everard hopes to hold an in-person event as soon as it is safe to do so, saying the Reclaim These Streets movement will "only grow bigger and bigger".
In-person vigils planned for Saturday evening were cancelled and moved online following a decision by a High Court judge in London.
Events had been planned across the UK, including in Edinburgh and Glasgow, to pay tribute to Ms Everard, who disappeared while walking home in London and whose remains were found this week.
On Friday, Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman suggested women should find another way to pay tribute to the 33-year-old, warning any vigil in a public place would go against coronavirus restrictions.
Chloe Whyte, who organised the Edinburgh vigil, spoke to the BBC's Radio 5 Live show on Saturday morning.
- Joseph Gamp
WHEN DID SARAH GO MISSING?
Sarah was last seen walking alone on a doorbell camera at 9.30pm in Clapham, South West London, on Wednesday, March 3.
Sarah, dressed in a bright green mac, had left a friend’s home half an hour earlier for the 50-minute walk back to her flat in Brixton.
Her kidnapper is said to have bundled Sarah into a hire car out of view of cameras.
- Joseph Gamp
WAYNE COUZENS REMANDED IN CUSTODY – DUE TO APPEAR BEFORE OLD BAILEY NEXT WEEK
The gun cop, who joined the Met Police in 2018, appeared in the dock in person at Westminster Magistrates' Court this morning.
Flanked by two police officers, Couzens sat with his head in his hands while wearing a grey jumper. He was remanded in custody to next appear at the Old Bailey on March 16.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said: "Mr Couzens, I am sending your case to the crown court sitting at the Central Criminal Court, what you might know as the Old Bailey.
"You will appear there for your first appearance on the 16th of March.I don't have the power to consider the question of bail. That will be considered should you wish to make an application to the court on the 16th of March.
"You are therefore remanded in custody until that date, both charges having been sent to the crown court."
- Joseph Gamp
VAN APPEARING TO CARRY WAYNE COUZENS ARRIVES AT COURT AS HE'S CHARGED WITH KIDNAP AND MURDER OF SARAH EVERARD
Van appearing to carry Wayne Couzens arrives at court as he’s charged with kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard
- Joseph Gamp
TRAGIC END
Police also revealed Couzens joined the Met in September 2018 where he worked on a response team in Bromley, South East London.
He then moved to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command on 1 February 2020 where he patrolled embassies in the capital.
Sarah vanished on March 3 after leaving a friend's home to walk the 50-minute journey back to her flat in Brixton.
She was captured on CCTV at 9.30pm in Clapham after spending 15 minutes on the phone with her boyfriend.
A huge search was launched after she disappeared with police searching ponds in the area.
- Joseph Gamp
SARAH EVERARD: KEY EVIDENCE FROM TRANSPORT FOR LONDON ‘TOOK DAYS TO SECURE AS THEY’RE CLOSED ON THE WEEKENDS’
VITAL Sarah Everard evidence from Transport for London took days to secure as they are closed on weekends, according to reports.
The 33-year-old was last seen walking from a friend's home in Clapham Common, South West London, on March 3.
Sarah was due to return to her flat in nearby Brixton and was captured on CCTV on the A205 Poynders Road at about 9.30pm.
Footage from a bus that showed the marketing manager on a main road is understood to have been a breakthrough in the tragic case.
But the crucial evidence took days to secure as Transport for London is not open at the weekend, The Times reports. Sarah's body was discovered in woodland in Ashford, Kent, on Wednesday night.
Read more here.
- Joseph Gamp
HOW WAYNE COUZENS WENT FROM MECHANIC TO MET POLICE OFFICER TO PRIME SUSPECT IN SARAH EVERARD’S DISAPPEARANCE
WAYNE Couzens was a mechanic who dreamed of becoming a cop — but is now the prime suspect in one of Britain’s most shocking murder investigations.
The 48-year-old gun cop had signed an oath of allegiance to preserve life and protect property when he joined the police.
Read our exclusive piece here.
- Joseph Gamp
PRITI PATEL SENDS 'THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS' TO SARAH EVERARD'S FAMILY DURING 'UNBEARABLE TIME'
Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with Sarah, her family and friends at this unbearable time.
"Many women have shared their stories and concerns online since Sarah’s disappearance last week.
"These are so powerful because each and every woman can relate."
- Joseph Gamp
SARAH EVERARD VIGIL CANCELLED AND VIRTUAL GATHERING EXPECTED INSTEAD
A vigil for Sarah Everard in south London has been cancelled and organisers said details of a "virtual gathering" will be announced instead.
Reclaim These Streets had been planning to host a demonstration on Clapham Common in south London on Saturday, near to where the 33-year-old, whose body was formally identified on Friday, went missing.
But organisers said that despite their attempts to work with police to ensure the vigil could go ahead safely, they now felt it could not go ahead.
In a tweet on Saturday morning the group said: "We have been very disappointed that given the many opportunities to engage with organisers constructively, the Metropolitan Police have been unwilling to commit to anything.
"While we have had positive discussions with the Lambeth officers present, those from Scotland Yard would not engage with our suggestions to help ensure that a legal, Covid-secure vigil could take place."
They added that "in light of the lack of constructive engagement from the Metropolitan Police, we do not feel that we can in good faith allow tonight's event to go ahead".
- Joseph Gamp
SARAH EVERARD'S FAMILY PAY TRIBUTE TO 'BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER AND SISTER'
The family of Sarah Everard later paid tribute to their "bright and beautiful daughter and sister".
In a statement, Sarah's family 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.”
- Joseph Gamp
SUSPECT TAKEN TO HOSPITAL FOR A SECOND TIME WITH HEAD INJURIES
Last night it emerged that Couzens was taken to hospital again for a second time with head injuries.
He went back to St George's Hospital, where he was taken for the first time in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Following the second incident, Couzens was taken back to Wandsworth police station and charged last night with the kidnap and murder of Sarah.
Couzens, attached to the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection branch, is alleged to have abducted 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah last Wednesday.
He is thought to have been a late entrant to the police, joining around 10 years ago after previously working at a family garage repairs business in Dover.
- Joseph Gamp
SECRET HAND SIGNAL FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS
A VIDEO is being shared online demonstrating a secret hand signal that shows if a victim of domestic violence is in need of urgent help.
The signal was developed by the Canadian Women’s Foundation to give victims a safe way to reach out during the lockdown, along with recommendations for how to respond when the signal is given.
The video shows a woman having a conversation with a friend via video call before discretely acting out the signal as she continues to talk.
She holds up her hand to the camera and folds her thumb into her palm, before folding her fingers over her thumb creating a fist.
The Canadian Women’s Foundation website states that the “Signal for Help” is a simple one-handed sign that can help a person silently show they need help and want someone to check in with them in a safe way.
- Joseph Gamp
COP WAYNE COUZENS CHARGED WITH MURDER AND KIDNAP
ARMED cop Wayne Couzens was last night charged with the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard.
Couzens, 48, will appear in custody at Westminster magistrates’ court this morning.
In an unusual departure from normal protocol, the Crown Prosecution Service announced the charges instead of police.
Rosemary Ainslie, head of special crime at the CPS, said yesterday: "Following a referral of evidence by the Metropolitan Police related to the death of Sarah Everard, the CPS has authorised the police to charge Wayne Couzens with murder and kidnapping.
"He will appear at Westminster magistrates' court tomorrow for his first hearing.”
- Holly Christodoulou
VIGIL BLOW
A planned vigil for Sarah in Clapham Common has been cancelled after organisers were threatened with a £10,000 fine.
The Reclaim the Streets march was due to take place tonight in solidarity with Sarah and women scared to walk alone.
But after the High Court upheld the Met's decision to ban it, the group have now been forced to cancel.
They are now looking to organise a virtual vigil later today.
- Hana Carter
WAYNE COUZENS WILL APPEAR IN COURT TOMORROW
Couzens, 48, will appear in custody at Westminster magistrates’ court tomorrow morning.
In an unusual departure from normal protocol, the Crown Prosecution Service announced the charges instead of police.
Rosemary Ainslie, head of special crime at the CPS, said: "Following a referral of evidence by the Metropolitan Police related to the death of Sarah Everard, the CPS has authorised the police to charge Wayne Couzens with murder and kidnapping.
"He will appear at Westminster magistrates' court tomorrow for his first hearing.”
- Hana Carter
WHEN DID SARAH GO MISSING?
Sarah was last seen walking alone on a doorbell camera at 9.30pm in Clapham, South West London, on Wednesday, March 3.
Sarah, dressed in a bright green mac, had left a friend’s home half an hour earlier for the 50-minute walk back to her flat in Brixton.
Her kidnapper is said to have bundled Sarah into a hire car out of view of cameras.
- Hana Carter
ANOTHER WOMAN SAYS SHE WAS TARGETED ON THE SAME NIGHT AS SARAH
A woman has today claimed she was targeted on the same night and in the same area that Sarah Everard vanished.
The woman revealed she felt a “creeping sickness in my stomach” after seeing missing posters for Sarah.
Writing in the Evening Standard, the unnamed woman said she had been let shaken after realising the 33-year-old had disappeared on the same night she was sexually assaulted nearby – since reporting the incident to police.
She wrote: “Whether or not it was helpful in their investigations, or was linked to Sarah’s disappearance, I do not know.
“But what it does tell me is that on one evening, in one small residential corner of a city, more than one woman was targeted by an attacker.”
- Hana Carter
COMMENT: SARAH EVERARD CASE IS EVERY WOMAN'S FEAR
"Women should not have to carry weapons to protect themselves against men.
We shouldn’t have to plan our route meticulously, we should be able to listen to music as loud as we like when we walk.
We should be able to walk along any stretch of road, path, park, or even dirt track unaccompanied without feeling scared.
We should be able to wear whatever clothing we like, without the length of skirt being used as a criticism against us."
To read Sun reporter Hana Carter's full article, click here.
- Hana Carter
COP‘EXPOSED HIMSELF TWICE IN MCDONALD’S’ DAYS BEFORE SARAH VANISHED
The cop who has been charged with the murder and kidnap of Sarah Everard has been linked TWO flashing reports at McDonald’s in south London, it was reported today.
The police watchdog is now investigating whether officers responded “appropriately” to a report linked to Wayne Couzens, 48, three days before Sarah, 33, disappeared.
Met Police today confirmed they were investigating two separate indecent exposure incidents at a fast food restaurant.
Both allegedly occurred on the Sunday at the same fast food restaurant, and are believed to have been caught on CCTV.
A source today told The Standard: “It’s definitely not that police did nothing about the indecent exposure or that they turned a blind eye to a crime by a colleague. But the question will be whether the case was progressed quickly enough.”
- Hana Carter
THE LATEST:
- Police were last night investigating whether Wayne Couzens used his warrant card to entice Sarah into a car
- The family of Sarah Everard paid tribute to their "bright and beautiful daughter and sister"
- Sexual harassment against women on the street could become a new criminal offence
- Home Secretary Priti Patel wrote that Sarah's alleged murder has shocked and saddened the whole country
- Human remains were found in woodland in Kent as part of the investigation
- Detectives have reportedly found no link between Sarah and Couzens
- Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he was “shocked and deeply saddened" by the case
- Hana Carter
VIGIL FOR SARAH?
The Met Police's decision to ban a vigil for Sarah Everard has been upheld by the High Court forcing organisers to cancel the event.
A High Court judge has refused to intervene in the legal battle between the organisers of Sarah Everard's vigil and Met Police.
Reclaim These Streets mounted a High Court challenge today, claiming the Met reversed the decision to permit Saturday's event in London in an attempt to ban it.
Campaigners for the vigil sought a declaration on the "correct legal position" over the current lockdown laws which neither ban nor allow protests.
- Hana Carter
SECRET HAND SIGNAL FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE VICTIMS
A VIDEO is being shared online demonstrating a secret hand signal that shows if a victim of domestic violence is in need of urgent help.
The signal was developed by the Canadian Women's Foundation to give victims a safe way to reach out during the lockdown, along with recommendations for how to respond when the signal is given.
The video shows a woman having a conversation with a friend via video call before discretely acting out the signal as she continues to talk.
She holds up her hand to the camera and folds her thumb into her palm, before folding her fingers over her thumb creating a fist.
The Canadian Women's Foundation website states that the “Signal for Help” is a simple one-handed sign that can help a person silently show they need help and want someone to check in with them in a safe way.
- Hana Carter
- Hana Carter
TUNNELS BEING SEARCHED UNDER COUZENS' HOME
Cops are now searching a network of tunnels under the derelict family garage of the Met officer.
Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave today said his thoughts and prayers were with the family and friends of Sarah after her body was found.
He said: "Our investigation continues with hundreds of officers working around the clock to find out exactly what has taken place."
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