Update #1
Detailed Case Timeline Part 4
Sarah Everard, 33, went missing while walking home in Clapham on 3rd March 2021; her remains found 10th March 2021
Charged on 12th March 2021 with Kidnap and Murder: Wayne Couzens, 48 (dob 20/12/1972), a Metropolitan Police Officer ("The accused")
11 March 2021, Thursday - Detectives are granted extra time to question the suspect:-
11 Mar 2021, Thursday :-
Morning – Sarah’s uncle NE says
Sarah did not know the arrested officer and that the family are baffled as to how he is linked to her disappearance. (
SOURCE MyLondon)
Morning - The Telegraph reported that footage from a TfL bus on Poynders Road had been obtained by detectives earlier this week. (
SOURCE MyLondon). The Sun reported that it was this footage which is believed to have led to the breakthrough in the case. (
SOURCE Sun). It’s then reported on 13th March in the Times and the Sun that
bus camera footage “took days to secure” because TfL are closed at weekends. (
SOURCE Sun)
6:02pm – Sarah’s family say they are grateful to the police and ask the public to come forward if they have any additional information. Police say the arrested man has been
further detained in custody at a London police station after an
application to extend his detention was granted at Wimbledon Magistrates’ court. Police also say that a woman in her 30s who was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender has been
released on bail to return to a police station on a date in mid-April. Police say Met detectives are being assisted by Kent Police. (
SOURCE Met Police. Note - Met Police links have since been removed. The MPS announcement was reported by The Guardian
here )
7:24pm - Police announce that the Met has made 5 self-referrals to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC).
The IOPC’s determinations in relation to each referral are printed in red.
- Mandatory referral, linked to the conduct of the man arrested. IOPC determined this should be locally investigated by the Met Police.
- Voluntary referral, linked to the conduct of the man arrested. IOPC determined this should be locally investigated by the Met Police.
- Mandatory referral, linked to actions of police after Sarah was reported missing. IOPC assessment is still outstanding.
- Voluntary referral, linked to “a conduct matter” in relation to the investigation into the “separate allegations of indecent exposure”. IOPC has determined that this will be subject to an independent IOPC investigation.
- Mandatory referral, linked to man’s head injury sustained while in custody in a cell alone, necessitating hospital treatment. IOPC assessment is still outstanding.
(
SOURCE Met Police. Note - Met Police links have since been removed. The MPS announcement was reported by The Guardian
here. )
12 March 2021, Friday - Sarah's body has been identified, Charges are authorised, the Accused is officially named for the first time by police :-
12 Mar 2021, Friday :-
Morning - Police officers are carrying out fingertip searches of an area of grass land behind the suspect's house in Deal on Friday (
SOURCE photograph Daily Mail). Forensic officers removed a Ducati Scrambler motorbike from the home of Sarah Everard suspect. (
SOURCE photograph Daily Mail)
11:00am – it’s reported in the Times and the Irish Sun that police are searching a maze of tunnels at Dover, near a disused repair garage formerly owned by the accused's family. (
SOURCE Irish Sun) (Photographs
Daily Mail)
2:00pm – Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave gives an update. He says that
the body “secreted” in woodland in Ashford, Kent on Wednesday has been formally identified as Sarah. A post mortem examination is taking place. (
SOURCE Met Police. Note - Met Police links have since been removed. The MPS announcement was reported by The Guardian
here. )
Afternoon - Police
marine unit divers continued their search of
ponds in Hoad Wood behind the grounds of the derelict activity centre in Great Chart on Saturday afternoon. (
SOURCE Daily Mail)
3:47pm it’s reported that the accused is being linked to
TWO incidents/reports of indecent exposure at a McDonalds in South London. (
SOURCE Irish Sun)
9:15pm CHARGES ARE ANNOUNCED. CPS announces by
Tweet “We have tonight authorised the Metropolitan Police
to charge Wayne Couzens with murder and kidnapping in relation to the death of Sarah Everard” and “CPS Head of Special Crime Rosemary Ainslie said: “Criminal proceedings are now active and nothing should be published that could jeopardise the defendant’s right to a fair trial.” The
full statement by CPS :
“Rosemary Ainslie, Head of Special Crime at the CPS, said: “Following a referral of evidence by the Metropolitan Police related to the death of Sarah Everard, the CPS has authorised the police to charge Wayne Couzens with murder and kidnapping.
“He will appear at Westminster magistrates' court tomorrow (13 March) for his first hearing.
“The function of the CPS is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges to a court to consider.
“Criminal proceedings are now active and nothing should be published that could jeopardise the defendant’s right to a fair trial.”
9:32pm - Met Police update:-
“
A serving police constable was tonight charged with the kidnap and murder of Sarah Everard.
Wayne Couzens, 48 (20.12.72) is due to appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, 13 March.”
“In the interests of clarity about these exceptional events, we are releasing further details of Couzens' employment with the Metropolitan Police Service.
Wayne Couzens joined the MPS on 10 September 2018. His first posting was to South Area where he joined a response team covering the Bromley area. He then moved to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command on 1 February 2020 where his primary role was on uniformed patrol duties of diplomatic premises, mainly a range of Embassies.” (
SOURCE Met Police)
10:44pm – Met Police
tweets a
media advisory notice - which reads :
The Attorney General confirms the requirement not to publish material which could jeopardise a fair trial.
Following the disappearance of Sarah Everard on the evening of 3 March, a police officer has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
The Attorney General Rt. Hon Michael Ellis QC MP wishes to amplify the importance of the requirement
not to publish any material that could create a substantial risk that the course of justice in these proceedings could be seriously impeded or prejudiced. This includes publishing information online. Publishing this information could amount to contempt of court and could affect the fairness of any future trial.
In particular, the Attorney General draws attention to the requirement
not to publish material that asserts or assumes the guilt of anyone who has been arrested. That is an issue to be determined by the jury if in due course there is a trial. The Attorney General also wishes to remind journalists and members of the public that
it can amount to contempt of court to publish information relating to untested and unconnected allegations against the suspect, and matters adverse to his character, the admissibility of which a Judge in due course may need to determine.
Editors, publishers and social media users should take legal advice to ensure they are in a position to fully comply with the obligations to which they are subject under the Contempt of Court Act 1981.
The Attorney General’s Office is monitoring the coverage of this investigation.
10:08pm - It's reported that the accused was taken to hospital today for a second head injury in custody, and again discharged back into custody following treatment. (
SOURCE Express)
13th March 2021, Saturday - The Accused is remanded into custody at Westminster Magistrates Court :-
13 Mar 2021, Saturday :-
10:00am - it’s reported that the suspect arrived at court. He “appeared to have a red wound on the top of his forehead.” “The court heard the officer is accused of kidnapping Ms Everard in the Poynders Road area of Clapham.” (
SOURCE Standard)
Morning - Flanked by two police officers, [the accused] sat with his head in his hands while wearing a grey jumper. He was remanded in custody to
next appear at the Old Bailey on March 16.
Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring said: "Mr Couzens, I am sending your case to the crown court sitting at the Central Criminal Court, what you might know as the Old Bailey.
"You will appear there for your first appearance on the 16th of March. I don't have the power to consider the question of bail. That will be considered should you wish to make an application to the court on the 16th of March.
"You are therefore remanded in custody until that date, both charges having been sent to the crown court." (
SOURCE Irish Sun)
12:37pm – it’s reported that “The body of Sarah Everard was found inside a large builder’s bag and identified using dental records, a court has heard.” “A post-mortem examination has taken place but no cause of death was given in court.” (
SOURCE Yahoo news)
A narrative of the court proceedings is disseminated to the PA, identical examples of which can be seen at
LBC and
Derby Telegraph.
His charge sheet alleges he "unlawfully and by force took or carried away Sarah Everard against her will". He also faces a charge of murder. (
SOURCE The Mirror)
14th March 2021, Sunday - A new potential crime scene is being investigated by police in Sandwich, Kent :-
14 Mar 2021, Sunday :-
1:00pm approx. - “Police officers have cordoned off a large area in Sandwich as part of the ongoing Sarah Everard murder investigation.” “Police have cordoned off The Rope Walk between Malcolm Waites Garage / Cow Leas Meadow and all the way through the town.” “It is understood police are awaiting specialist teams.” (
SOURCE Isle of Thanet News)
3:40pm - Sandwich Town Council put out
a notice to local residents not to gather at a specific location being investigated by Kent Police.
5:00pm – “A new search focussing on a
waterside path and recycling bin has been opened by police investigating the death of Sarah Everard.” “Met Police teams have today cordoned off a part of the pathway alongside a stream in Sandwich in relation to the ongoing investigation.” "I'm told police raced down and were seen
arriving on blue lights and have not been letting anyone through.” (
SOURCE Kent Online)
9.30pm - Officers from the Metropolitan police also set up a tent and equipment in the Guildhall car park, on the western side of the cordon. (
SOURCE The Guardian, plus their
photo here). The cordoned-off area in Sandwich covers New Street through to the Cow Leas Meadow area. A police van is seen near The Cooperative. (
SOURCE Sky news, plus their
photo here)
16 Mar 2021, Tuesday - Accused is due to appear at Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey), London.