Sarah Everard: Criminal Proceedings Against Perpetrator Ex-Police

Sarah Everard: Criminal Proceedings Against Perpetrator Ex-Police

Wayne Couzens, a former member of the Metropolitan Police Service, was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday for kidnapping Sarah Everard when she was strolling along a London Street and subsequently raping and killing her.

Couzens used his police identification and handcuffs to fraudulently arrest and kidnap Everard, 33, as he walked home. Couzens deceived Everard into getting into his automobile on the premise that she had breached COVID-19 lockdown regulations, according to prosecutors. Couzens pleaded guilty to kidnapping, rape, and murder charges.

Couzens was condemned to a life sentence, which means he will never be eligible for parole. Because the death penalty was abolished by the UK parliament more than 50 years ago, “whole-life orders” are usually given if the offense is very heinous.

Everard was a blameless victim of a grotesquely executed set of misdeeds, according to Lord Justice Adrian Fulford. Couzens' actions, according to Lord Justice Fulford, undermined public trust in the police.

In his sentencing remarks, Fulford stated, I have not the least doubt that the defendant exploited his position as a police officer to compel her into the automobile he had rented for this purpose on a totally false pretence. Finally, in a statement, Everard's family stated, Nothing can make things better, nothing will bring Sarah back, but knowing he will be imprisoned forever provides some solace.