British police accused of killing a 33-year-old woman from London appeared in court for the first time on Saturday. He only spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
Art. Wayne Couzens, 48, who guarded the diplomatic buildings, is charged with kidnapping and murder in the death of Sarah Everard on March 3, who disappeared when she walked home from a friend’s apartment, Reuters reported.
The disgraced cop stood still, wearing a gray tracksuit, while the charges were read to him during the short trial, reports The Associated Press. He is in custody and is due to appear in central London court on Tuesday.
Couzens, who joined the force in 2018, was found with his head injured in his cell at the Wandsworth police station in south London on Thursday, his second night in custody. He was taken to hospital a second time Friday.
Police on Friday confirmed Everard’s body was found in a wooded area in Kent, south-east London, on Wednesday. According to The Sun, she had to be identified using dental records.
Authorities refused to grant a permit for a vigil planned Saturday near the site where Everard was last seen, citing the pandemic. Activists wanted the event to draw attention to the safety of women causing her murder for a vigilance for ‘Reclaim These Streets’.
Video Credit: REUTERS