Wayne Couzens used police ID and handcuffs to kidnap Sarah Everard before murdering her

The court also heard Couzens burnt Sarah Everard’s body after killing her


Wayne Couzens used police equipment, including his warrant card and training about Covid rules to trick Sarah Everard into getting into a car with him before he raped and murdered her, a court has heard.

This morning was the start of a two-day sentencing hearing for the murder of 33-year-old Sarah Everard who was killed back in March earlier this year.

Couzens, who was a Metropolitan police officer at the time of the kidnap, deceived Sarah Everard into a car he had hired. He kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard, then burned her body to hide his crimes after killing her, the court heard.

The court also heard Couzens’ semen was found on Sarah Everard’s body and he had tried to get rid of her mobile phone. A fragment of Sarah’s SIM card was found in a car Couzens used.

Tom Little QC, who is present at today’s hearing, said Couzens was likely to have been wearing his police belt with handcuffs and a rectangular black pouch, similar to a pepper spray holder, when he kidnapped Everard.

Couzens pleaded guilty to the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard at earlier court hearings.

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