UK police officer given whole life sentence for murder of London woman

Reporters waiting for sentence outside London's Old Bailey AFP / DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS

A British police officer was given a whole life prison sentence on Thursday for the murder of Sarah Everard after abducting her as she was walking home.

Wayne Couzens, 48, a serving London officer who guarded diplomatic premises, had pleaded guilty to murder, rape and kidnap.

His whole life sentence at London's Old Bailey court means he has no chance of parole.

He abducted Everard, 33, in a hire car as she walked home from a friend's house in south London on March 3 and her body was later found in woodland around 80 km away in southeast England.

A post-mortem concluded she had died as a result of compression of the neck.

Prosecutors said that Couzens and Everard were "total strangers", and the murder prompted outpourings of anger from women who have recounted their own experiences and fears of being out alone at night.

Couzens was sentenced after a two-day hearing. One witness saw Everard being handcuffed before her abduction, and police investigating the case said he may have used COVID-19 protocols as an excuse to falsely arrest her before killing her.

The Metropolitan Police Force, which both investigated the murder and for whom Couzens worked, said it was "sickened, angered and devastated" by his crimes, and Commissioner Cressida Dick has apologised to Everard's family.

Britain's police watchdog is looking into police failures to investigate an indecent exposure incident linked to Couzens in 2015, and two further such allegations in February this year.

More from International News

On Virgin Radio today

Trending on Virgin Radio

  • BRED Abu Dhabi

    BRED Abu Dhabi, Presented by Hypebeast, is back April 24-28 in Yas Bay. The line up is next level and locked in.

  • Untold Dubai

    It arrived: The UAE's First Mega Music Festival at Expo City Dubai!

  • Mais Vault on the Kris Fade Show!

    The boys tried their 'pick up' lines on Mais Vault and things did not go according to plan...

  • The Kris Fade Show Podcast

    Not in the car so much while Kris, Priti and Rossi are on air? Check out the daily podcast here...