A police officer has accepted responsibility for killing York woman Sarah Everard, a court heard this morning (Tuesday).
Pc Wayne Couzens, 48, appeared at the Old Bailey, when he pleaded guilty to the kidnap and rape of Sarah Everard.
The court heard Couzens accepted responsibility for the killing of Ms Everard but was not asked to enter a plea to a charge of murder.
Marketing executive Ms Everard, 33, went missing as she walked home from a friend’s house in Clapham, south London, on March 3.
A major police investigation was launched and her body was found a week later in woodland in Kent.
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.
Members of Ms Everard’s family sat in court to witness the defendant enter his pleas.
Family in court
The Metropolitan Police officer was wearing khaki trousers and a grey sweatshirt as he appeared by video link from Belmarsh jail.
He pleaded guilty to kidnapping Ms Everard “unlawfully and by force or fraud” on March 3.
He also pleaded guilty to a second charge of rape between March 2 and 10.
Couzens was not asked to enter a plea to her murder between March 2 and 10.
The defendant said: “Guilty, sir” when asked for his plea to the first two charges.
The court heard that responsibility for the killing was admitted but medical reports were awaited.
A further hearing before Lord Justice Fulford is due to take place on July 9.