The heartbroken family of Sarah Everard was denied the chance to face her killer one last time as former Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens refused to appear in court for his sentencing hearing.
Couzens, who kidnapped, raped and murdered the 33-year-old marketing executive in March 2021, chose not to attend the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice where judges were deciding whether to increase his minimum jail term.
A Cruel Absence
Sarah's devastated parents, siblings and partner were present in court, hoping to see justice served. However, they were left shocked and distressed when Couzens failed to appear via video link from prison.
"It's just another way of him exerting control," said a family friend. "He's taken everything from them and now he's denying them even this small measure of closure."
Legal Proceedings Continue Without Him
Despite Couzens' absence, the hearing proceeded with judges considering whether his whole-life tariff should be increased. The former firearms officer is currently serving a whole-life sentence - the most severe punishment in the UK justice system.
The court heard harrowing details about:
- Couzens' calculated planning of the crime
- His abuse of police powers to carry out the attack
- The profound impact on Sarah's loved ones
A Nation's Outrage
The case sparked nationwide outrage and protests about violence against women, particularly as the perpetrator was a serving police officer who used his warrant card to falsely arrest Sarah under COVID-19 lockdown rules.
Women's rights groups have described this latest development as "another painful twist in an already unbearable ordeal" for the Everard family.
The judges' decision on whether to formally increase Couzens' sentence is expected to be delivered at a later date.
