Man charged with kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard appears in court

The Metropolitan Police officer charged with kidnapping and murdering 33-year-old Sarah Everard, who vanished from the streets of south London on March 3, appeared in front of a magistrates court on Saturday.

PC Wayne Couzens, 48, was arrested on Tuesday at his home in Kent, southeast England. Saturday's hearing was his first appearance since being charged.

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Sarah Everard was on her way back home from visiting a friend in Clapham, a popular neighborhood in the capital. She disappeared at around 9:30 p.m. during the 50-minute walk to get to Brixton.

Human remains were found on Wednesday in an area of woodland in Ashford, Kent, and were later identified as her body.

A police officer lays a flower tribute to murder victim Sarah Everard at the entrance to Great Chart Golf and Leisure near Ashford, southeast England on March 13, 2021, following the confirmation that a body discovered in the woodland was that of the missing woman. /Ben Stansall/AFP

Couzens, a member of the force's diplomatic protection unit, appeared in court wearing a grey tracksuit and showing a wound on his forehead.

According to a statement made by the police earlier, Couzens had been taken to hospital twice in 48 hours for treatment to separate head injuries sustained in custody.

In court, Couzens heard the charges against him and spoke only to confirm his name and personal details. He was then remanded in custody to appear at the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey, on March 16.

Source(s): AFP