Latest news with #SarahEverard
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Daily Mail
Wayne Couzens' marital home - with hot-tub he built in the garden - hits the market: Three-bed house where killer cop lived with wife and kids is on sale for £280K
Wayne Couzens ' marital home has gone on the market for £280,000 - complete with a hot tub he built in the back garden, the Daily Mail can reveal. The shamed Met Police officer, 52, who is serving a whole life sentence for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard in 2021, lived there with wife Olena for five years. The couple paid £200,000 for the three-bedroom terrace house in 2016, taking out a mortgage with Nat West Bank, records show. Couzens was arrested at the house in Deal, Kent, by police investigating the brutal killing of Sarah, 33, in a crime that shocked the nation – and left his wife and two children stunned. The disgraced former police officer had handcuffed and 'arrested' Sarah in fake Covid patrol in March 2021, as she walked home through Clapham Common after visiting a friend for dinner. He bundled her into a car, then raped and murdered her, eventually driving to remote woods near Ashford, where he burnt her body and dumped her remains in a pond, with police making the grim discovery six days later. The property is described by estate agents as an 'ideal terraced family house, spacious throughout with three double bedrooms and ample living space'. It goes on: 'The rear garden is a great size and overlooks fields behind. To the front there is a blocked paved driveway and garage. 'The property has been well cared for and has a modern kitchen bathroom and log burner.' The description makes no mention of the hot tub that Couzens built, but in pictures illustrating the house, the timber surround can clearly be seen in the back garden. Other images show a neat and tidy interior with books on shelves and a board game under the table, as well as magnets on the fridge door and a large telescope in the kitchen. The house was put up for sale earlier this year for £300,000 but the price was later reduced by £20,000 after failing to attract interest, despite being close to local amenities, schools and the train station. Ukrainian born Olena was often seen by neighbours walking the family's two pet French bulldogs Napoleon and Josephine and was described as 'warm and friendly' by locals, who added she 'kept a low profile'. Following Couzens arrest in 2021, Olena told the Daily Mail she had kept asking herself 'Why?' adding that it was 'not human behaviour'. She went on: 'If I had any idea what was going on in Wayne's head, then none of this would've happened but I didn't know anything. The kitchen shows magnets on the fridge door and a large telescope in the corner as well as family dining table 'He didn't appear to be acting strangely. I didn't notice anything was wrong. I'm working full time, most of the time I'm dropping the children off at school and picking them up, I have a really busy lifestyle. 'I can't comprehend it because he never once previously showed any glimpse of violence, he was never that way. I'm just as puzzled as everyone else. 'I saw nothing wrong. He had a beautiful family, a good house… what else did he need? I'm constantly asking myself "where I did miss the signs? How on earth could this have happened?' Couzens was jailed at the Old Baily in September 2021 and trial judge Lord Justice Fulford told him: 'Your wife and children, who on all the evidence, are entirely blameless, will have to live with the ignominy of your dreadful crimes for the rest of their lives.' Couzens drove to remote woods near Ashford (pictured), where he burnt her body and dumped her remains in a pond, with police making the grim discovery six days later Shortly after his arrest Olena visited him in prison where he was on remand and he cried and apologised to her and it is thought to be the last time she saw him, although it is not known if they have divorced. Couzens is serving his sentence at HMP Frankland and last month it emerged he had been taken to hospital for a back operation that cost tax payers £17,000.
Daily Record
18-07-2025
- Daily Record
Sarah Everard's family 'couldn't see her to say goodbye' due to killer's act
Sarah's family joined other relatives of victims of murder to explain their torment. Murderers who hide, dismember or burn their victim's corpses could face a new criminal offence of desecrating the body, which has been backed by grieving families. Grieving families - including Sarah Everard's parents - met with MPs to tell of the torment they feel knowing their loved one's bodies had been violated by their evil killers. The meeting followed a campaign by Marie McCourt whose 22-year-old daughter, Helen, was murdered in 1988 by pub landlord Peter Simms. Her remains have never been found. Families met with Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones earlier this week and she vowed to review current legislation. Among them were Sarah Everard's mum, Susan, who spoke about how her daughter's body was set alight and hidden inside bin bags before being submerged in water by twisted Wayne Couzens, reports the Mirror. She said: 'It was an act of disrespect and cruelty which caused us enormous heartache and rage. Because of what he did, we weren't able to see Sarah to say goodbye. It was all we had left - a chance to honour her and see her one last time and we were denied this.' Marie first launched the 'Stop the Desecration' campaign in the Mirror in November 2021. She was previously the driving force behind Helen's Law, named after her beloved daughter. The Law requires the Parole Board to consider a killer's failure to disclose the location of their victim's remains when deciding on whether to grant them parole Since the law was passed in January 2021, five applications from prisoners who refuse to say what they have done with victims' bodies have been refused. At the meeting on Tuesday Susan Everard, who attended with husband Jeremy, quietly spoke about how her daughter was abducted, raped and murdered by serving police officer Couzens, in 2021, before the twisted predator tried to cover his crime. 'He did it to hide the evidence, to cover his tracks, to maintain the illusion of being a decent family man," she said. Susan told MPs: 'During the investigation into Sarah's disappearance, I asked to be told all the facts, however terrible. But I have never asked what she looked like when she was found. It is too awful to contemplate. 'I have seen pictures of burnt bodies. I know her beauty would have been decimated. But I block these images - it is too distressing. Our daughter's murderer received a full life sentence for the crimes of kidnap, rape and murder. The attempt to destroy her body was noted as an aggravating factor but there was no specific law to allow the act of desecration to be treated as a separate crime and to be punishable as such. 'In our case it would have made no difference to the length of sentence, but it would have been an acknowledgement of the seriousness and horror of the act of desecration and the terrible impact it has on the victim's family. It goes against all that is regarded as right and proper by society.' Marie, 82, of Billinge, Merseyside, was unable to attend the meeting due to ill health, but sent an emotional statement that was read out by campaigning journalist Fiona Duffy. She said: 'Simms had been charged and convicted of murder. Surely that was enough? But it's not Helen's murder that continues to torture me every minute of every day and night. It's the fact that she is still out there. Lost. 'Killers resort to desperate lengths….hiding, dismembering, burning or trying to destroy a body - in their attempt to commit the perfect murder. Bereavement experts say that such acts trigger a grief so complex, disturbing and all-consuming that it never eases. "Respecting the dead, even in wartime, is a basic human dignity. That is all we are asking for today. I will continue, until my last breath, to fight on to prevent any other family experiencing this torture.' Minister Alex Davies-Jones told the families: 'What's important is that we acknowledge there is work to be done in this area. It's clear there is a legislative gap that needs to be looked at. And we shouldn't be dragging our feet with this.' She announced she had already asked the Law Commission, the independent body which recommends legal reform in England and Wales, to review current legislation. The Minister said she would work with the campaign group and its supporters,including Associate Professor of Law, Dr Imogen Jones, who has written two papers arguing for a reform of current legislation, and look at other countries that have these laws in place. Other families at the meeting also laid bare their pain. Lesley Rees fought back tears as she revealed how the grave of her murdered brother, Mike O'Leary, contains just six centimetres of his remains which were recovered by forensic experts. She said: 'The perpetrator planned the murder meticulously and would have gotten away with it was it not for the excellent work of Dyfed Powys Police officers.' After shooting Mike, in a secluded area, his former friend Andrew Jones used a fork lift truck to move the body into the boot of his car. Lesley, who attended with her widowed sister-in-law, Sian, said: 'The following night, he placed his body on top of a pile of wooden pallets and kept an intense fire burning all night, continually adding more fuel. What was done to Mike's body is forever embellished in our brains. 'But despite Jones admitting in a pre-trial hearing that he had lured Mike to the scene, was responsible for his death and had disposed of his body, he was only ever charged with murder. If he had been found not guilty then he would have been a free man. We continue to live each day with the agony of knowing how that monster treated our loved one's body. 'We are all suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Mum, who is 87, lights candles every day. She calls it 'waking Mike up' and has a shrine in the house for him. It is so hard to see the pain in her eyes and hear her cry like a wounded animal. I am begging you, please ensure this law is passed – and quickly.' MP Steve Witherden, read out a statement from Coral Jones, mother of five-year-old April, who was abducted from outside her home and murdered by Mark Bridger in 2012. She described how the family were able to have a funeral for April. 'But the coffin was empty apart from a few little bits of bones and personal items I was able to place inside. 'I don't go to the grave as much as I used to because I know she's not all there. I know he killed my daughter. But I also know that, afterwards, he didn't hide or bury her. He did something far, far worse and that causes such pain. 'We think he has burned her to a certain amount, then put her in the river and scattered her. That's the hardest part for me. The offences Bridger was convicted of don't reflect the true horror of what he did. The law needs to be changed.' Afterwards Steve said: 'Coral's statement was incredibly harrowing and moving. I cried when I first read it but I wanted to ensure her voice could be heard. The death of a child is the worst thing that can happen to a person. But to know that they have been brutally murdered and their remains desecrated is horrific.' He added: 'To my shame, I was ignorant of the law in relation to the desecration of bodies. This is a really important campaign and I will continue to support it.' Ann Davies MP, whose call for action in the House of Commons last month led to this week's meeting said: 'My first reaction, on hearing of this campaign, was disbelief that such laws don't already exist. Everybody needs respect in life – and in death. And that needs to be reflected in our criminal justice system.' Tuesday's meeting coincided with the release of the final report from an inquiry into the crimes of necrophiliac killer David Fuller – who sexually abused the bodies of more than 100 women and girls in hospital mortuaries. The MOJ, under a Conservative Government, told Marie in 2022 that it wanted to wait until the Fuller inquiry had been concluded before considering her proposal for new laws. Marie said: 'There's nothing to stop them now. The report clearly illustrates that dignity after death is an area in need of massive reform.' Chairman Sir Jonathan Michael said the inquiry is the first time the 'security and dignity' of people after death has been reviewed so comprehensively. He urged the Government to appoint a Commissioner for the Dignity of the Deceased. In her statement, Marie had said new laws could not come soon enough. 'We are one of the few nations globally not to have this legislation. In every American state, Australia, Germany, France, Portugal, Denmark, Iceland, Japan, China and Russia, killers who hide, burn, dismember or destroy bodies all face these extra charges. 'Lord Justice Charles Hadden-Cave KC, who represented bereaved families of victims of the Marchioness disaster of 1989 allowed us to use his powerful quote 'the care with which our dead are treated is a mark of how civilised a society we are', in our campaign. Desecration laws would give a clear message; that the victim matters and that vile acts committed after death will not be tolerated by a civilised society.' Marie's campaign is also supported by the families of murder victims Sasha Marsden, Jayden Parkinson, Lorraine Cox and Jan Mustafa.
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Sarah Everard's family 'couldn't see her to say goodbye' due to killer's act
Grieving families - including the parents of Sarah Everard - met with MPs to tell of the torment they feel knowing their loved one's bodies had been violated by their killers Murderers who hide, dismember or burn the corpses of their victims could soon face a new criminal offence of desecrating the body, which has been backed by grieving families. Grieving families - including the parents of Sarah Everard - met with MPs to tell of the torment they feel knowing their loved one's bodies had been violated by their killers. The meeting followed a campaign by Marie McCourt whose 22-year-old daughter, Helen, was murdered in 1988 by pub landlord Peter Simms. Her remains have never been found. Families met with Victims Minister Alex Davies-Jones earlier this week and she vowed to review current legislation. Among them were Sarah Everard's mother, Susan, who spoke about how her daughter's body was set alight and hidden inside bin bags before being submerged in water by twisted Wayne Couzens. She said: 'It was an act of disrespect and cruelty which caused us enormous heartache and rage. Because of what he did, we weren't able to see Sarah to say goodbye. It was all we had left - a chance to honour her and see her one last time and we were denied this.' Marie launched the 'Stop the Desecration' campaign in the Mirror in November 2021. She was previously the driving force behind Helen's Law, named after her murdered daughter. The Law requires the Parole Board to consider a killer's failure to disclose the location of their victim's remains when deciding on parole Since the law was passed in January 2021, five applications from prisoners who refuse to say what they have done with victims' bodies have been turned down. At the meeting on Tuesday Susan Everard, who attended with husband Jeremy, quietly spoke about how her daughter was abducted, raped and murdered by serving police officer Couzens, in 2021, before he violently tried to cover his crime. 'He did it to hide the evidence, to cover his tracks, to maintain the illusion of being a decent family man," she said. Susan told MPs: 'During the investigation into Sarah's disappearance, I asked to be told all the facts, however terrible. But I have never asked what she looked like when she was found. It is too awful to contemplate. 'I have seen pictures of burnt bodies. I know her beauty would have been decimated. But I block these images - it is too distressing. Our daughter's murderer received a full life sentence for the crimes of kidnap, rape and murder. The attempt to destroy her body was noted as an aggravating factor but there was no specific law to allow the act of desecration to be treated as a separate crime and to be punishable as such. 'In our case it would have made no difference to the length of sentence, but it would have been an acknowledgement of the seriousness and horror of the act of desecration and the terrible impact it has on the victim's family. It goes against all that is regarded as right and proper by society.' Marie, 82, of Billinge, Merseyside, was unable to attend the meeting due to ill health, but sent an emotional statement read out by campaigning journalist Fiona Duffy. She said: 'Simms had been charged and convicted of murder. Surely that was enough? But it's not Helen's murder that continues to torture me every minute of every day and night. It's the fact that she is still out there. Lost. 'Killers resort to desperate lengths….hiding, dismembering, burning or trying to destroy a body - in their attempt to commit the perfect murder. Bereavement experts say that such acts trigger a grief so complex, disturbing and all-consuming that it never eases. "Respecting the dead, even in wartime, is a basic human dignity. That is all we are asking for today. I will continue, until my last breath, to fight on to prevent any other family experiencing this torture.' Minister Alex Davies-Jones told the families: 'What's important is that we acknowledge there is work to be done in this area. It's clear there is a legislative gap that needs to be looked at. And we shouldn't be dragging our feet with this.' She announced she had already asked the Law Commission, the independent body which recommends legal reform in England and Wales, to review current legislation. The Minister said she would work with the campaign group and its supporters,including Associate Professor of Law, Dr Imogen Jones, who has written two papers arguing for a reform of current legislation, and look at other countries that have these laws in place. Other families at the meeting also laid bare their pain. Lesley Rees fought back tears as she revealed how the grave of her murdered brother, Mike O'Leary, contains just six centimetres of his remains which were recovered by forensic experts. She said: 'The perpetrator planned the murder meticulously and would have gotten away with it was it not for the excellent work of Dyfed Powys Police officers.' After shooting Mike, in a secluded area, his former friend Andrew Jones used a fork lift truck to move the body into the boot of his car. Lesley, who attended with her widowed sister-in-law, Sian, said: 'The following night, he placed his body on top of a pile of wooden pallets and kept an intense fire burning all night, continually adding more fuel. What was done to Mike's body is forever embellished in our brains. 'But despite Jones admitting in a pre-trial hearing that he had lured Mike to the scene, was responsible for his death and had disposed of his body, he was only ever charged with murder. If he had been found not guilty then he would have been a free man. We continue to live each day with the agony of knowing how that monster treated our loved one's body. 'We are all suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Mum, who is 87, lights candles every day. She calls it 'waking Mike up' and has a shrine in the house for him. It is so hard to see the pain in her eyes and hear her cry like a wounded animal. I am begging you, please ensure this law is passed – and quickly.' MP Steve Witherden, read out a statement from Coral Jones, mother of five-year-old April, who was abducted from outside her home and murdered by Mark Bridger in 2012. She described how the family were able to have a funeral for April. 'But the coffin was empty apart from a few little bits of bones and personal items I was able to place inside. 'I don't go to the grave as much as I used to because I know she's not all there. I know he killed my daughter. But I also know that, afterwards, he didn't hide or bury her. He did something far, far worse and that causes such pain. 'We think he has burned her to a certain amount, then put her in the river and scattered her. That's the hardest part for me. The offences Bridger was convicted of don't reflect the true horror of what he did. The law needs to be changed.' Afterwards Steve said: 'Coral's statement was incredibly harrowing and moving. I cried when I first read it but I wanted to ensure her voice could be heard. The death of a child is the worst thing that can happen to a person. But to know that they have been brutally murdered and their remains desecrated is horrific.' He added: 'To my shame, I was ignorant of the law in relation to the desecration of bodies. This is a really important campaign and I will continue to support it.' Ann Davies MP, whose call for action in the House of Commons last month led to this week's meeting said: 'My first reaction, on hearing of this campaign, was disbelief that such laws don't already exist. Everybody needs respect in life – and in death. And that needs to be reflected in our criminal justice system.' Tuesday's meeting coincided with the release of the final report from an inquiry into the crimes of necrophiliac killer David Fuller – who sexually abused the bodies of more than 100 women and girls in hospital mortuaries. The MOJ, under a Conservative Government, told Marie in 2022 that it wanted to wait until the Fuller inquiry had been concluded before considering her proposal for new laws. Marie said: 'There's nothing to stop them now. The report clearly illustrates that dignity after death is an area in need of massive reform.' Chairman Sir Jonathan Michael said the inquiry is the first time the 'security and dignity' of people after death has been reviewed so comprehensively. He urged the Government to appoint a Commissioner for the Dignity of the Deceased. In her statement, Marie had said new laws could not come soon enough. 'We are one of the few nations globally not to have this legislation. In every American state, Australia, Germany, France, Portugal, Denmark, Iceland, Japan, China and Russia, killers who hide, burn, dismember or destroy bodies all face these extra charges. 'Lord Justice Charles Hadden-Cave KC, who represented bereaved families of victims of the Marchioness disaster of 1989 allowed us to use his powerful quote 'the care with which our dead are treated is a mark of how civilised a society we are', in our campaign. Desecration laws would give a clear message; that the victim matters and that vile acts committed after death will not be tolerated by a civilised society.' Marie's campaign is also supported by the families of murder victims Sasha Marsden, Jayden Parkinson, Lorraine Cox and Jan Mustafa.
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Police officer told a woman he met on Tinder he would kidnap, rape and murder her in chilling echo to the Sarah Everard case, a court heard
A police officer told a woman he met on Tinder that he would kidnap, rape and murder her in a chilling echo to the Sarah Everard case, a court has heard. Andrew Holmes was a serving officer with Hampshire Police when he made the 'menacing and disgusting' comment to a woman he had started speaking to on the dating app. During the conversation in August last year, the 32-year-old said that if they met up he would kidnap, rape and murder her and burn her body. The shocked victim reported the incident to police, particularly given that he had told her he was a policeman. Holmes, 32, was spared prison but a district judge said it was 'astonishing' he thought that his comments were appropriate against the background of the Sarah Everard case. Ms Everard was abducted, raped and murdered by serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens in March 2021, in a case that shocked the UK. Poole Magistrates' Court heard that Holmes had engaged in a 'short conversation' with the woman on Tinder last year. In a statement, the victim said that when they initially reported the incident to the police, they 'didn't feel like it had affected me that much'. Holmes (pictured), 32, was arrested by fellow officers at his home in Southampton, two days later on August 18. He was spared prison but a district judge said it was 'astonishing' he thought that his comments were appropriate against the background of the Sarah Everard case Describing the comments as 'vulgar and disgusting', the statement, read by Leah Dillon, prosecuting, added: 'Although he had told me he was a police officer I was really hoping he wasn't as I didn't want to believe a police officer would say such awful things. 'When the police told me he was an officer and had been arrested it really shook me up. I started to think what would have happened if we had met up. 'It made me feel so uneasy, especially the rape comment as this is something that happens to women on dating sites.' The victim, who did not know Holmes prior to their 'short' interaction, also shared how the comments by Holmes had 'knocked' their confidence. They added: 'I've not been on any dating sites since this incident and have no plans to. 'I don't know why he felt he could say this thing to me, as well as not knowing what his true intentions were.' Holmes was arrested by fellow officers at his home in Southampton two days later, on August 18. Officers also discovered an extendable police baton in his bedside drawer he was not meant to have. Holmes maintained that it was a joke and denied sending an offensive, indecent, obscene or menacing message by public communication network. He did, however, admit to having an offensive weapon in a private place. Found guilty of the charges following the trial, Holmes was sacked from his job following a misconduct hearing in March. Rosa Bennathan, defending, described Mr Holmes as a 'man of good character'. She said: 'That loss of good character will be significant. The loss of his career through his actions. 'When she said she was unhappy with the messages, he immediately apologised and sought to reassure her, he has expressed real significant remorse.' Ms Bennathan also said that batons were kept in an area of the police station where individuals left unused equipment and that officers would often take things as spares. She added: 'He intended to use it as a spare, took it home with him and forgot he had done so. He accepts he should not have been storing that kind of police equipment at home.' The court also heard that Holmes is beginning to 're-establish' a 'relationship' with a woman, Ms Sarah Hocking. Having met on a dating site, the pair have known each other for eight years, with Ms Hocking describing Holmes as 'consistently kind and supportive'. Ms Bennathan added: 'He and Sarah Hocking are beginning to re-establish their relationship, move back in together and discuss a family. 'He is mortified, he will not commit similar offending in the future and he's not a risk to the public.' Judge Mike Snow told Holmes that there was 'no possibility' that his comments 'could reasonably be taken as a joke'. Directly addressing the former police officer, he said:' You were a serving police officer on August 16, 2024. 'Taking place against the background of the Sarah Everard case, I find it astonishing anyone would ever think it was appropriate to send two messages referencing kidnap, rape, murder and burning of the body. 'It had a very profound effect on your victim. She has left dating sites because of fear she will come across somebody who will behave in a similar way.' The judge added that while this was the 'most serious category' which carries jail time, he would grant suspension due to Holmes' previous good character and real prospect of rehabilitation. Holmes was given a six-week prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, and ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work and pay £500 compensation to the victim and prosecution costs of £650. He was also ordered to pay a £200 fine for the police baton offence and £154 victim surcharge. Hampshire Police Assistant Chief Constable Tony Rowlinson said: 'It is inconceivable to me that someone who has identified themselves as a police officer, while off duty, could ever feel it would be appropriate to make menacing comments like this to somebody they have just met. 'PC Holmes may have not intended to cause emotional or psychological harm to the woman, however he should have foreseen there was a risk of such harm. 'This sort of behaviour undermines trust and confidence, in particular in relation to the perception of women and girls, and the trust they can have in a male officer to treat them with respect and take their reports seriously.'
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Killer police officer Wayne Couzens is 'allowed to jump waiting list' for £17,000 back operation on the NHS
Disgraced police officer Wayne Couzens was admitted to hospital for a back operation, costing the taxpayer an estimated £17,000. Couzens, 52, who was found guilty of the kidnapping, rape and murder of Sarah Everard, was escorted from his cell in HMP Frankland in Durham to a nearby hospital for a lumbar procedure - more commonly known as a spinal tap. The cost of transporting him to and from the Category A prison is believed to have cost the taxpayer an estimated £10,000 as an intensive security team was required. Couzens, who was reportedly classed as a high-risk escort, had to be accompanied by a custody manager and around four prison officers in a bulletproof - not because he poses a danger to the public but because of the danger the public poses to him. Politicians from across the political spectrum have expressed concerns that Couzens may have been allowed to jump the waiting list for the spinal tap procedure which costs the NHS up to £7,000 and typically has an 18-week waiting list, according to The Sun. Luke Akehurst, Labour's North Durham MP, told the publication that the cost of security to take Couzens to hospital was 'an appalling waste of public money. He added: 'I would be disgusted if it turns out that this vile rapist and murderer was able to jump the queue in front of decent law-abiding people to get his treatment.' Despite sitting firmly on the opposition benches, Robert Jenrick, shadow Justice Minister, agreed with Mr Akehurst, and said: 'Wayne Couzens is one of the most despicable criminals in our jails and a traitor to the police uniform he wore. 'He should not be given any special treatment in jail,' Mr Jenrick added. 'He's in prison as punishment for his terrible crimes — nobody should forget that.' A spinal tap involves a needle being inserted into your lower back to drain fluid. It is performed 'to find out why you're having certain symptoms, to treat a condition, or to give an anaesthetic', according to the NHS. The University Hospital of North Durham is a short seven-minute drive away from HMP Frankland - and it is the nearest unit to provide spinal taps. A source told The Sun that Couzens was complaining of backpain whilst at HMP Frankland and although the operation was not an emergency, it was carried out to make him feel more comfortable. HMP Frankland is the same prison where Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi attacked prison officers with hot cooking oil and makeshift weapons in April. Abedi was known to be one of the most dangerous inmates in the UK, with a history of attacking officers. He was ordered to serve a record 55-year minimum term for helping his brother murder 22 people, many of them children, at the Manchester Arena in 2017. Ms Everard disappeared on the evening of March 3, 2021 after visiting a friend's house on the edge of Clapham Common in London. Leaving at 9pm, the 33-year-old set off on the 2.5 mile walk home during which she called her boyfriend for around 14 minutes. At around 9.30pm, two figures are caught by a bus camera on Poynders Road standing beside a white Vauxhall Astra parked on the pavement with hazard lights flashing. It later emerged that Couzens used his police-issued warrant card to stage a fake arrest. He then drove Ms Everard to a rural area near Ashford, Kent, where he raped and strangled her with his police belt before burning her body in a fridge and dumping her remains in a nearby pond. Her body was found a week later on March 10, 2021. In September that same year, Couzens was served a whole life order at the Old Bailey, and since been found guilty on three counts of indecent exposure which occurred prior to murdering Ms Everard. Vigils were held across the country to mark Ms Everard's death, including the event at Clapham Common which turned into chaos as Met police officers detained protestors for violating Covid restrictions. Onlookers claimed that officers shoved women, pinned protestors to the ground and 'elbowed people in the faces'. In September 2023, the Met Police paid compensation to Patsy Stevenson and Dania Al-Obeid who were arrested at the Clapham vigil, with Scotland Yard chiefs apologising to the two women. The Met said they 'tried to achieve a balance that recognised the rights of the public to protest and to express their grief and sadness, while also continuing to enforce the relevant Covid legislation.' 'We are working every day to make London a city where women and girls can feel and be safe,' they added.
