The police officer who kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard has lodged for an appeal in order to reduce the length of his sentence
The Metropolitan Police firearms officer had used his position of power to stage an arrest and kidnap Ms Everard as she was walking home. He was handed a whole life order for the crime in September.
A former police officer who had kidnapped, raped and murdered Sarah Everard has lodged for an appeal in order to reduce the length of his sentence.
Wayne Couzens had been handed a whole life order back in September for the murder of the 33-year-old marketing executive Sarah Everard.
This comes after
Wayne Couzens, was handed a whole life order for the “grotesque” killing of the 33-year-old marketing executive which has shocked and outraged the entire nation. Sentencing took place at the Old Bailey on Thursday, Lord Justice Fulford said the seriousness of the case was so “exceptionally high” it warranted a whole life order.
The Metropolitan Police firearms officer had used his official warrant card and handcuffs in order to kidnap her as she was walking home, using the national COVID-19 lockdown rules as the premise for a false arrest.
Couzens, aged 48, had been planning his brutal crime for at least a month.
A Court of Appeal official had said on Wednesday: “An application (for permission to mount an appeal against sentence) has been lodged.”
When sentencing Wayne Couzens, Lord Justice Fulford said that the abuse of his “unique position” as a police officer was a “vital factor” in his decision to hand him a whole life sentence.
He added that the seriousness of this case was “exceptionally high”.
After the sentencing, Ms Everard’s family said that while nothing could be done bring her back, knowing that Couzens “will be imprisoned forever brings some relief”.
Unless the appeal is successful, Couzens will be remaining part of a relatively small group of UK killers who will die behind bars for their crimes.
This comes after Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick is facing mounting calls to resign, after Wayne Couzens – nicknamed ‘The Rapist’ by colleagues – was sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of Sarah Everard.
Earlier this month, Reading terrorist Khairi Saadallah lost a Court of Appeal challenge against his whole-life sentence for the murders of three men, following a hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice.
An independent inquiry will now look into the “systemic failures” by police over Ms Everard’s death.
Meanwhile, five officers from four different forces are facing disciplinary action over messages about Wayne Couzens.
