The Met Police officer who kidnapped and murdered Sarah Everard used Covid-19 laws to carry out a bogus arrest of the 33yo, the Old Bailey has heard.
He was carrying an array of police equipment and posing as an undercover cop when he handcuffed and captured her.
He was carrying an array of police equipment and posing as an undercover cop when he handcuffed and captured her.
PC Wayne Couzens, an officer who was heavily in debt and contemplating leaving the Met, had made preparations for the crimes he was about to commit, including buying a spare key for his handcuffs.
Sarah Everard was walking home from dinner with a friend when she was kidnapped.
Sarah Everard was walking home from dinner with a friend when she was kidnapped.
Couzens went out that night with a plan: to hunt for a lone woman that he could kidnap and rape.
He drove around Kensington, Earl's Court, and towards Lavender Hill in a circular route, before eventually coming across Ms Everard.
He drove around Kensington, Earl's Court, and towards Lavender Hill in a circular route, before eventually coming across Ms Everard.
The kidnapping was witnessed by a woman driving home with her husband, who saw Ms Everard being handcuffed in the 'rear stack' position by a confident looking Couzens, who then put her in the back of his car. Ms Everard was 'compliant' and appeared to believe it was a real arrest
Couzens is in the dock for today's sentencing hearing.
He has sat with his head firmly bowed throughout proceedings so far, shuffling in and out of court while flanked by three guards.
The sentence is going to be passed tomorrow.
He has sat with his head firmly bowed throughout proceedings so far, shuffling in and out of court while flanked by three guards.
The sentence is going to be passed tomorrow.
Couzens has maintained a determined silence over the exact circumstances of the rape and murder.
Ms Everard's family and friends, as well as police and prosecutors, are still in the dark on when and where she was killed.
Ms Everard's family and friends, as well as police and prosecutors, are still in the dark on when and where she was killed.
The court is hearing detailed evidence of Couzens' activities after Sarah Everard's murder.
He stopped for a Costa hot chocolate and bakewell tart after dumping the body and before returning the hire car.
He stopped for a Costa hot chocolate and bakewell tart after dumping the body and before returning the hire car.
He threw her phone into a flood relief channel, then went home and resumed his family duties including rearranging his children's dental appointment.
The next day, Couzens bought petrol to burn the body, and left it alight as he went off to do other things.
The next day, Couzens bought petrol to burn the body, and left it alight as he went off to do other things.
He found time to seek anxiety treatment for the family dog, while buying builders' bags to take Ms Everard's body to a pond.
Couzens then emailed his police supervisor, asking to be removed from firearms duties due to stress over a pay dispute.
Couzens then emailed his police supervisor, asking to be removed from firearms duties due to stress over a pay dispute.
On March 7, Couzens took his wife and children to the same woods where he had burned Ms Everard's body.
During the family trip, he allowed his children to play near to the pond where her body had been dumped.
During the family trip, he allowed his children to play near to the pond where her body had been dumped.
Sarah's family have delivered powerful impact statements to the court hearing.
Both father Jeremy and sister Katie demanded Couzens look at them as they spoke, though the killer could not bring himself to fully lift his head.
Both father Jeremy and sister Katie demanded Couzens look at them as they spoke, though the killer could not bring himself to fully lift his head.
Susan Everard, Sarah's mother, said she is "haunted by the horror" of what happened, and lets out a silent scream each night while imagining the kidnapping:
"Don't get in the car, Sarah, don't believe him. Run!"
"Don't get in the car, Sarah, don't believe him. Run!"
Mr Everard said Couzens would get "no redemption", and Katie Everard branded the PC a "monster".
"I am horrified by your ability to flit between what you did and normal everyday actions"
"I am horrified by your ability to flit between what you did and normal everyday actions"
Couzens will return to court tomorrow, when his barrister will offer mitigation.
Sentence is expected to be passed tomorrow.
A whole life order is being considered.
Sentence is expected to be passed tomorrow.
A whole life order is being considered.
Family of Sarah Everard demand that killer PC looks them in the eye, as they reveal the horrific impact of the murder: standard.co.uk/news/crime/fam…
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