London:
A serving British police officer kidnapped a lady as she walked home, handcuffing her in a false arrest for breaking coronavirus restrictions, ahead of raping and murdering her, a court was told on Wednesday.
The disappearance of Sarah Everard for the duration of a national lockdown in March was one of Britain’s most higher-profile missing individual investigations and sparked protests and a debate about women’s security on the streets.
Wayne Couzens, 48, who served with the elite diplomatic protection unit of London’s Metropolitan Police, admitted her kidnapping, rape and murder in July.
Everard, who had been going to a pal in Clapham, south London, was strangled then set on fire, with her remains discovered in woodland.
At a two-day sentencing hearing, prosecutor Tom Little stated Couzens targeted the 33-year-old advertising and marketing executive on March 3, and accused her of breaking coronavirus guidelines.
Couzens, who was off-duty, kidnapped Everard in a “false arrest”, by “handcuffing her and showing his warrant card”, he added.
Security camera footage showed him holding up his warrant card and then handcuffing Everard ahead of placing her into a employ automobile.
A couple driving previous in a automobile also witnessed this, and assumed an undercover police officer was producing an arrest, the lawyer added.
But he stated Couzens exploited his expertise and practical experience of police patrols enforcing lockdown restrictions and knew what language to use.
A former boyfriend had provided proof that Everard was “savvy and streetwise” and would not have got into a automobile with a stranger except “by force or manipulation”, he added.
Couzens sat in the dock at London’s Old Bailey with his head bowed, watched by members of Everard’s family, as the judge regarded as irrespective of whether to hand him a entire-life jail term.
The sentence was due to be announced on Thursday.
Before the hearing, the Metropolitan Police stated in a statement: “We are sickened, angered and devastated by this man’s crimes, which betray everything we stand for.”
The force has sacked the officer and stated his actions “raise many questions and concerns” but it would not comment additional till soon after the sentencing.
Demonstrators outdoors the court held banners with slogans criticising the police such as “Met Police Blood On Your Hands” and let off smoke flares.
The government has pledged to boost legislation soon after Everard’s murder sparked widespread anger at women’s lack of security in public spaces.
In July, the interior ministry stated it would enhance the presently low numbers of perpetrators brought to justice for offences such as rape, domestic abuse, stalking and sexual harassment and work with police to “more effectively respond to street harassment”.
Yet in an additional higher profile case, key college teacher Sabina Nessa was murdered earlier this month as she walked by means of a London park to meet a pal.
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