The British policeman accused of killing a 33-year-old London woman appeared in court for the first time on Saturday. He spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, who was guarding the diplomatic buildings, is charged with kidnapping and murder in the March 3 death of Sarah Everard, who disappeared while walking home from a friend’s apartment, Reuters reported.
The embarrassed policeman was silent, wearing a gray tracksuit, while his accusations were read during the short hearing, reported The Associated Press. He has been detained and is due to appear in London’s Central Criminal Court on Tuesday.
Couzens, who joined the force in 2018, was found with head injuries in his cell in the Wandsworth police station in south London on Thursday, his second night in custody. He was taken to hospital a second time on Friday.
Police confirmed on Friday that Everard’s body was found Wednesday in a wooded area of Kent, southeast of London. She had to be identified using dental records, according to The Sun.
Authorities refused to grant a permit for a planned vigil on Saturday near where Everard was last seen, citing the pandemic. Activists wanted the event to draw attention to the safety of women generated by her crime for a “Reclaim These Streets” vigil.
Video credit: REUTERS