Britain’s most hated officer Wayne Couzens wants permission to appeal against his entire-life sentence for kidnapping and raping Sarah Everard.
The Met firearms officer used Covid powers in order to make a fake arrest of the marketing executive, 33, as she walked home from her friend’s house in March. Before she committed crimes so terrible they shocked the nation.
Lord Justice Fulford, who handed down a whole-life sentence to Couzens at the Old Bailey last week, said that Couzens (48), had pleaded guilty for kidnap rape and murder and ‘used’ his position as a cop officer to kidnap Miss Everard, Clapham.
The Mirror reported that a court official told them on Tuesday that Mr Couzens had filed an appeal. If permission is granted, the Court of Appeal Criminal Division will take the case.
Couzens is one among over 60 criminals currently serving whole-life sentences. They are reserved for the most severe crimes, such as political motivated murders or serial killings.
Lord Justice Fulford stated that Sarah’s murder was as serious as a murder committed for political, religious, or ideological purposes.
Couzens is joined by infamous killers such a British soldier Lee Rigby’s killer Michael Adebolajo, Dale Cregan, the police officer killer, Mark Bridger, and April Jones, who were both five years old.
Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, both Moors murderers, also received whole-life orders. Levi Bellfield, serial killer and murderer, is the only one to be given two.
Britain’s most hated officer in police Wayne Couzens wants permission to appeal against his entire-life sentence for kidnapping and raping Sarah Everard.
Couzens has been the subject of a slew if claims since he was sentenced to life in prison with no parole, after he kidnapped and raped Miss Everard.
Couzens was known to have done an indecent exposure by driving around naked in his car from the waist down while he served with them in 2015.
He was also identified as the one who committed the same crime at a McDonald’s restaurant days prior to his attack on Miss Everard.
He staged a fake Covid-arrest, handcuffed Miss Everard, and then drove 80 miles to Kent, where he raped her and murdered her. He burned her body and left it in the woods next to his land days later.
Couzens was sentenced to life in prison with no parole, after he kidnapped and raped Miss Everard.
The Met has been criticized for not exposing Couzens as a predator of sexual relations before he killed Miss Everard.
The Civil Nuclear Constabulary staff discovered that the 48 year-old was known as “the rapist” because he made his female colleagues feel uncomfortable.
He was accused indecent exposure in Kent in 2015. And in London in the days prior to Ms Everard’s death. However, he was allowed continue to work.
Priti Patel has announced an independent inquiry into the “systematic failures” that allowed Wayne Couzens as a Met officer. The Home Secretary said that “recent tragic events have revealed unimaginable failures of policing”.
She said that the public had a right to know why Couzens was employed by the Metropolitan Police.
Miss Patel addressed the Conservative Party conference in Manchester and stated: “I can confirm today that there will be an investigation, to give independent oversight necessary, to ensure that something like this cannot happen again.”
The inquiry will focus on Couzens’ history in the Metropolitan Police, and determine if there were red flags that could have been missed to identify him a threat.
The probe will likely be viewed by Met chief Cressida, who has been subject to calls to quit following Miss Everard’s murder.
The inquiry will be divided into two parts. The first examines Couzens’ past behavior.
It will establish a definitive account’ of his conduct leading into his conviction and ‘any opportunities lost’. The second section of the probe will focus on’specific issues raised during the first part. This could include investigating wider issues in policing such as vetting practices and workplace behavior.
Miss Patel will also send a letter to HMICFRS, an independent police inspector, to request a ‘thematic inspection of vetting procedures and counter-corruption procedures for policing in England and Wales’. This will examine the ways in which forces deal with misogynistic or predatory behaviour.
The Home Office stated that the inquiry would be conducted on a non statutory basis, but could be converted to an statutory inquiry if necessary.
The Government will announce the appointment of a chairman and the terms of reference for the inquiry in due course.
Couzens, 33, staged a fake Covid Arrest, handcuffed Sarah Everard (pictured), and then drove 80 miles to Kent, where he raped, murdered, and robbed her.
Cressida Dick (pictured), confirmed that all allegations of domestic and sexual abuse against Metropolitan Police officers in the last ten year will be reviewed in light of Miss Everard’s death.
In light of Miss Everard’s murder, all allegations of domestic abuse and sexual assault against Metropolitan Police officers during the past ten years will be reviewed.
Dame Cressida, the commissioner for force, announced Friday that an investigation was being launched into all cases of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse allegations against London police officers.
60-year-old Dame Cressida also stated that similar allegations against officers and employees of the force in the past ten years will be investigated.
Officers from the Directorate of Professional Standards of force will review each case and conduct a background check on the staff involved in the claims.
The under-fire commissioner refused to resign and said: “We’ll be reviewing them.” [the allegations]to ensure that the victim is properly supported and that the investigation is thorough.
“We’ll also be going back and looking at some of those.” [historic]Investigations are conducted to ensure that all the necessary processes have been followed and that we have taken the correct management actions after the case has been closed.
According to the force, an examination, which was launched in addition a review into Met’s culture conducted by Baroness Casey, Blackstock, was being held after Ms Everard’s assassination.
Dame Cressida stated that she was ‘delighted’ to announce that Baroness Blackstock will take charge of an independent and far-reaching’ review, which is expected to last six months.
She said, “She will be looking into our vetting, recruitment, leadership, training and all manners of processes to see if they reinforce the highest possible standards.”
“She will make a public report and make public recommendations so that we can improve and make the public have more faith in us.”
Dame Cressida claimed that Baroness Casey was a strong candidate for this job, having been leading an inquiry into the ways in which England yobs were allowed to enter Wembley during Euros final.
She stated that she believed she had the right character, the right expertise, as well as the right background to conduct this review.
Baroness Casey stated that the trust is given to police by the consent of the public. Consequently, any act that violates that trust must be investigated and fundamentally altered.
“This will no doubt prove difficult, but we owe it the victims and their families as well as the many decent police officers that this has brought into disrepute.
The spotlight will also be on the force’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, which was the target of the killing Couzens. There will be a root-and-branch’ review to determine if there are any specific issues’ within the unit.
Sadiq Khan, London’s Mayor, has welcomed Baroness Casey’s appointment to lead an independent review of the Met’s culture & standards.
In a series if tweets, Mr Khan stated that Baroness Casey’s review should examine the culture of the Met Police, including the issues of misogyny/sexism/racism and homophobia, as well as the standards of conduct for officers and staff, as well as recruitment, vetting, training and leadership.
“I have been open with the Met Commissioner regarding the magnitude of the challenge and the need for change, and I will continue my efforts to hold the Met Police accountable on behalf of Londoners.
It was revealed that more then half of Met officers found guilty in sexual misconduct during a four-year period from 2010 to 2020 were still employed, which is 43 officers out of 83, or 52 per cent.
The Metropolitan Police are also under fire for the handling of Everard’s case. An independent panel found ‘institutional corruption’ in an investigation into the unsolved 1987 murder of Daniel Morgan.
Private investigator was shot to death in a car park in south London. Panel members discovered that the Met failed to adequately investigate the case.