Sarah Everard Didn’t Have To Die
Killers aren’t Born; They Evolve
by Elaine Gilmartin
On March 6, 2023, Wayne Couzens, former London Metropolitan police officer and murderer of Sarah Everard, was sentenced to an additional nineteen months in prison on top of his whole life sentence for three instances of indecent exposure. Had police followed through on these reports at the time, Sarah Everard likely would be alive today.
In a London courthouse, the judge praised the victims “courage and resilience.” These women who experienced the indecent exposure, two different occasions for female employees at a McDonald’s drive through, the other on a cyclist path, did everything right. They reported it in an effort to keep other women safe. The police had these reports, two of which were caught on camera with Couzens not only visible, but was further identified by his vehicle and license. And yet, no consequences.
So on that horrific day in 2021 when Couzens, who worked a COVID patrol encountered Sarah Everard walking home, was able to handcuff and abduct her, going on to rape, murder her and dismember her body. All because he was a police officer, an authority figure imbued with public trust.
Bell Riberio-Addy, Labour’s MP stated, “Multiple women reported Sarah Everard’s killer for indecent exposure. The police’s failure to…
