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24th May 2022

Wayne Couzens denies four counts of indecent exposure before Sarah Everard murder

Steve Hopkins

The incidents are alleged to have taken place in Swanley, Kent, on four separate occasions

Wayne Couzens has denied four counts of indecent exposure in the months leading up to the murder of Sarah Everard.

Couzens, who was part of the Met’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection unit, is serving a whole life term for abducting, raping, and murdering the 33-year-old who he used his police ID to stop under the guide of a covid check.

The 49-year-old appeared at the Old Bailey video link from Frankland prison to face allegations that he “intentionally exposed his genitals intending that someone would see them and be caused alarm and distress”.

The incidents are said to have taken place in Swanley, Kent, on four occasions: between January 22 and February 1, 2021, January 30 and February 6, on February 14 and February 27.

Everard, a marketing executive, was kidnapped by Couzens while she walked home in south London on 3 March 2021. Her body was found in a builder’s bag a week later in Kent woodland.

Everard’s family released a statement on the anniversary of her disappearance saying how their “lives have changed forever”.

“It is a year since Sarah died and we remember her today, as every day, with all our love. Our lives have changed forever and we live with the sadness of our loss. Sarah was wonderful and we miss her all the time.

“Over the past year, we have been overwhelmed with the kindness shown to us, not just by family and friends, but by the wider public. We are immensely grateful to everyone for their support, it has meant such a lot to us and has comforted us through this terrible time.”

The Met also released a statement saying: “Our thoughts are with Sarah Everard’s family and loved ones. One year on we remain deeply disgusted and shamed that a Met police officer was responsible for Sarah’s appalling murder.”

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