Friday’s guilty plea by a British police officer to the murder of Sarah Everard (33-year-old) as she walked from south London friend’s house to her home.

Wayne Couzens had previously admitted to kidnapping and violating Sarah Everard (a marketing executive who disappeared on March 3). Couzens pleaded guilty to murder at a London Central Criminal Court hearing. He appeared via video link from Belmarsh’s high-security prison.

After Everhard’s disappearance, a major police investigation was initiated. Her body was discovered in woods more than 50 miles (80 km) southwest of London a week later.

Everard was found and killed in the wake of the national search. Women shared their stories of being attacked, threatened or just plain afraid of being attacked while walking alone.

After Everard-supporting women were arrested for violating coronavirus restrictions, police in London came under fire.

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Couzens, 48 years old, joined London’s Metropolitan Police as an officer in 2018. He had previously served in the parliamentary protection command, which is responsible for protecting embassies and Parliament in London.

Although the police force expressed shock and horror at Everard’s crime, they are being investigated by the watchdog for police over their handling of an allegation that Couzens had indecently exposed itself days before Everard was taken.