UK Cop Admits Rape, Kidnap Of Missing London Woman
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: A British police officer on Tuesday pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and the violation of a woman whose disappearance as she walked home provoked indignation and a national debate on women’s safety.
Wayne Couzens, 48, who served in the Elite Diplomatic Protection Unit of the Metropolitan Police, also accepted the responsibility of Sarah Everard’s murder.
But he was not asked to enter a reason for a murder collection when he appeared on the former Bailey court, as medical reports were expected.
Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive disappeared into Clapham, South London, on March 3.
The disappearance of it led to vigils and protests and caused the government to promise the improved police patrols at night, as well as financing to make the streets safer for women.
Couzens wore wearing khaki pants and a gray sweatshirt, since he appeared video link of high security prison Belmarsh in southwest London, where he is in remand.
He answered “guilty, sir” to the accusation of kidnapping Everard “illegally and by force or fraud” on March 3 and also pleaded guilty of a second charge of rape between March 2 and 10.
Everard’s family sat on the court while Couzens entered his pleas.
Everard had been visiting friends in the Clapham area and returned to her house at nearby Brixton when she disappeared.
She was discovered a week later at Woods about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from Kent, Southeast England.
The metropolitan police said last week that a post-mortem examination gave the cause of death as “neck compression”.
The next audience will be held on July 9, a provisional test date has been established for October.
