Police officer Wayne Couzens pleads guilty to the kidnap and rape of Sarah Everard
A Met Police officer has admitted kidnapping and raping Sarah Everard.
Ms Everard disappeared on March 3 while she was walking home from a friend’s house in Clapham.
Her body was found in a woodland in Kent on March 10.
Appearing at the Old Bailey, PC Wayne Couzens, 48, pleaded guilty both to kidnap and rape.
Couzens told the court he accepted responsibility for the killing of Ms Everard but was not asked to enter a plea to a charge of murder.
A post mortem revealed that Ms Everard died from compression of the neck.
In a statement after her death, Ms Everard’s family described her as “a shining example to us all” who brought them pride and joy.
They said: “Sarah was bright and beautiful – a wonderful daughter and sister.”
“She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour.”