Disclaimer: The article contains mentions of murder and assault. Reader discretion is advised.
BBC announced a documentary that revolves around the abduction and murder of Sarah Everard by Met Police Officer Wayne Couzens. The 60-minute program will reportedly focus on the systemic changes that are needed to improve conditions of safety for women and how authorities handle cases of violence against women.
Wayne Couzens was a former London police officer who was convicted of the abduction, rape, and murder of a 33-year-old marketing executive, Sarah Everard, in 2021. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to life in prison with no chance for parole. In March 2023, he was sentenced to 19 more months in prison after he was accused of indecent exposure that he imposed on women while he was in the force.
Sarah Everard disappeared from Clapham, south London, on her way home from a friend’s place on the night of March 3, 2021. Her body was found in a woodland near Ashford in Kent, about 20 miles west of Wayne Couzens’ home. She was wrapped in a builder’s bag that Couzens had recently purchased. The Guardian reported that the victim was identified through her dental records. He reportedly used his badge and the COVID-19 restrictions to abduct Sarah.
In 2023, Wayne Couzens was found guilty of multiple instances of indecent exposure to women. Two of the incidents occurred at a fast-food restaurant, and one of them happened when he was on duty. In November 2020, Couzens reportedly stepped in the way of a female cyclist, naked and masturbating. CNN reported that the following year, in February, he exposed two employees at a fast-food chain while he was there to pick up food.
How did Wayne Couzens plan Sarah Everard’s murder?
As per BBC, during his sentencing, the court found that Sarah Everard’s abduction and murder were planned and premeditated. He reportedly intended to inflict sexual violence on a victim he wanted to abduct using his power. Although the choice of victim was random, the attack was allegedly planned. The month before the murder, he regularly traveled to London from Deal, Kent. He did this to research how to carry out the crime. Days before the crime, he hired a car, which was then used for the abduction.
He served a 12-hour shift at the embassy on March 3, 2021. After that, he reportedly drove around in search of a victim. Wayne Couzens used his experience of working in the force to convince Sarah Everard that she was under arrest for breaching coronavirus guidelines. He had a Metropolitan Police issue warrant card and had served in the COVID patrolling in January of that year. He had been serving in the force since 2002.
After he handcuffed her and drove a bit, he moved her into his own car. He then drove to a remote rural area where he raped her and strangled her with his police belt. He then dumped her body at the site and left. The following day, he bought petrol, burned the body, and packed the remains in two green rubble bags. He left them in a pond in Hoad’s Wood, Ashford, in a woodland area he owned. He was charged after the body was recovered.
The BBC documentary was reportedly made in close contact with Sarah’s parents. They hope that the program will reveal information about the patterns of power misuse by law enforcement authorities as well as shed light on violence against women.