London Police Officer Pleads Guilty To Murdering Sarah Everard

The London police Constable who admitted to killing Sarah Everard pleaded guilty to murder on Friday.

Wayne Couzens, 48, had previously pleaded guilty to kidnapping and raping Everard, a 33-year-old who disappeared walking home late at night from her friend’s house in March. He will be sentenced at a later date. 

So far, Couzens has refused to speak about the murder with authorities, and his motive for the killing remains unknown. 

“Couzens lied to the police when he was arrested, and to date, he has refused to comment. We still do not know what drove him to commit this appalling crime against a stranger,” Carolyn Oakley, Crown Prosecution Service Specialist Prosecutor, said in a statement. 

She added, “Today is not the day for hearing the facts about what happened to Sarah. Today is a day to remember Sarah, and our thoughts remain with her family and friends.”

She was last seen on March 3 as she was walking home late at night in south London. Everard’s body was discovered on March 10 in a wooded area in Ashford, Kent.

Her death sparked national outrage over women’s safety and sexual assault. In the wake of Everard’s murder, women began sharing stories of fearing for their safety in public.

A vigil was held on March 13, where police officers, citing COVID-19, clashed with demonstrators. The vigil devolved into a protest for which police were heavily criticized after footage showed police being rough with women.