Serving Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, made his first appearance at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday morning. He was charged with the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard and remanded in custody.
Wayne Couzens, 48, was brought in person before Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning. He has been remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey on March 16th.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said:
“Mr Couzens, I am sending your case to the crown court sitting at the Central Criminal Court, what you might know as the Old Bailey. You will appear there for your first appearance on the 16th of March…I don’t have the power to consider the question of bail. That will be considered should you wish to make an application to the court on the 16th of March… You are therefore remanded in custody until that date, both charges having been sent to the crown court.”
The Metropolitan Police previously said Mr Couzens joined the force in 2018, most recently serving in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command as an armed unit.
He was responsible for guarding the Parliamentary estate and embassies throughout London.
His main job was uniformed patrol of diplomatic buildings.
Scotland Yard stated he was not on duty at the time of Sarah Everard’s disappearance.
Sarah Everard, 33, left a friend’s house on Leathwaite Road, Battersea, in London at around 9pm on March 3rd.
She was last seen walking towards her home in Brixton at around 9.30pm.
Sarah then vanished and nobody was able to locate her. A Metropolitan Police search saw officers sear
ch the ponds of Clapham Common and visit more than 750 residences.
PC Wayne Couzens was arrested on March 9th in relation to the disappearance of Sarah Everard.
The following day, the Met confirmed human remains were discovered in a woodland in Ashford, Kent.
The remains were officially identified as Sarah Everard just two days later.
Couzens was charged with Sarah’s kidnap and murder on the evening of Friday, March 12th.
In a statement last night, Rosemary Ainslie, head of special crime at the Crown Prosecution Service, stated:
“Following a referral of evidence by the Metropolitan Police related to the death of Sarah Everard, the CPS has authorised the police to charge Wayne Couzens with murder and kidnapping.”
The heartbroken family of Miss Everard yesterday paid tribute to the bright young woman, describing her as a ‘shining example to us all’.
Many members of the community have organised a doorstep candle-lit vigil in honour of Sarah.
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