A Metropolitan police officer who kidnapped, raped and then strangled Sarah Everard has admitted her murder.
Wayne Couzens, 48, snatched Ms Everard, 33, as she walked home alone in Clapham, South London.
He took her to woodland in Ashford, Kent, where her body was later found.
Couzens was an armed officer who guarded the Royal family and diplomats.
He hired a car to kidnap Ms Everard and left her body in a bag used for building waste.
He’d previously admitted the kidnap and rape of the marketing executive.
He appeared on a video link at the Old Bailey to plead guilty to her murder.
He faces life in prison.
He held his hands clasped between his knees and his head was bowed as he said, “guilty ma’am”.
Sarah Everard
Ms Everard had spent the evening with friends before she set off from Clapham to walk to her home in Brixton.
During the two and a half mile journey she came across Couzens in a hired white Vauxhall Astra on the South Circular.
Tom Little QC, prosecuting, told the court:
“Before the kidnap of Sarah Everard on the South Circular on March 3, he had not previously met her, did not know her, and had not direct or indirect contact with her. They were total strangers to each other.”
It’s still not known the exact circumstances surrounding the rape and murder of Ms Everard.
Couzens wove a web of lies when first quizzed and has since stayed silent.
Mr Little said Couzens transferred Ms Everard from the hire car to another vehicle “on the Kent coast”.
Forensic analysis of the vehicles is still ongoing.
Mr Little said:
“That may go to the point of establishing where it was that Sarah Everard was raped and where she was murdered.”
Jim Sturman QC, for Couzens, said:
“The guilty pleas represent truly genuine guilty and remorse for what he did, and as he put it to us this morning he will bear the burden for the rest of his life and he deserves to.
“The victims in this case are the Everard family and friends, not him. He doesn’t feel sorry for himself, he feels sorry for what he did.”
Members of Ms Everard’s family were in court for the plea hearing.
Couzens, from Deal in Kent, has admitted charges of murder, rape, and kidnap, and is due to be sentenced at the Old Bailey on September 29th and 30th.
