A police officer charged with murder in the death of the Londoner Sarah Everard whose disappearance in early March shocked the UK, admitted this Tuesday in court his responsibility in the death of the young woman.
Wayne Couzens, 48, appeared by video conference from the London maximum security prison of Belmarsh, where he is being held, in a hearing held in the criminal court of London.
This agent of the diplomatic protection unit of the police of London he pleaded guilty to kidnapping and rape and admitted responsibility for Everard’s death.
The 33-year-old marketing executive disappeared on March 3 after leaving a friends’ house in Clapham, south of London, to return home on foot.
She was found dead a week later in a forest in Kent, the region of south-east England where Couzens lives.
According to the forensic report, his death was caused by “neck compression.”
Her disappearance and death caused a great commotion in the country, reigniting the debate on violence against women.
Thousands of women reported their feelings of insecurity on social media, denouncing threats and harassment and asking politicians to do something about it.
A new hearing of the case is scheduled for July 9 before Couzens’ trial in October.