Murder of Sarah Everard
On the evening of March 3rd 2021, 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah Everard disappeared in South London.[1] She went missing after leaving a friend's house near Clapham Common to walk home.
On March 9th, Wayne Couzens, a Metropolitan Police officer with the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection unit, was arrested in Deal, Kent, on suspicion of Everard's kidnapping and later on suspicion of her murder.[2] On March 10th, her remains were discovered in woodland near Ashford, Kent. Couzens was charged with kidnapping and murder two days later.[3][4] In June 2021, police confirmed that Everard died of asphyxiation (strangling).[5][6][7][8] On June 8th 2021 Wayne Couzens, 48, pleaded guilty to the kidnap and rape of Ms Everard and on July 9th 2021 pleaded guilty to her murder. The officer was since sentenced on September 30th 2021 to life imprisonment.[9]
A vigil was held for Everard in London on 13 March, leading to a controversial police response and four arrests for breaking COVID-19 regulations.[10]
