Ex-police officer who raped and murdered York woman Sarah Everard faces sentence

A former police officer who kidnapped, raped and murdered York woman Sarah Everard will return to the Old Bailey to learn if he will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Wayne Couzens, 48, was a serving Pc with the Metropolitan Police when he snatched Ms Everard as she walked home in Clapham, south London, on the evening of 3 March.

The sexual predator, who had clocked off from a 12-hour shift that morning, went on to rape and strangle the 33-year-old marketing executive.

A week after she disappeared, Ms Everard’s body was found in a woodland stream in Ashford, Kent, just metres from land owned by Couzens.

The firearms-trained parliamentary and diplomatic protection officer wiped his phone just minutes before he was arrested at his home in Deal, Kent, on March 9.

The killing prompted national outrage and sparked protests at the rate of violence against women.

Family in court

Ms Everard, who was a pupil at Fulford School, went to Durham University.

She moved to London for work around 12 years ago. Her brother and sister also work in the capital.

Her father Jeremy, a professor at the University of York, and her mother Sue went to London to assist in the search when she went missing.

In July when Couzens pleaded guilty to Ms Everard’s murder, kidnap and rape by video link from jail.

Today (Wednesday), he will come face-to-face with his victim’s family when he is brought into the dock of the Old Bailey for the start of his sentencing.

Prosecutor Tom Little QC will open the case, revealing more information about how Ms Everard met her death and how police tracked down the culprit.

Couzens’ lawyer Jim Sturman QC is then expected to offer mitigation on behalf of the defendant.

Before handing down his sentence on Thursday, Lord Justice Fulford will consider a whole life order, which could mean Couzens may never be released from prison.