Sarah Everard’s family see cop Wayne Couzens accused of her kidnap and murder for the first time

SARAH Everard’s family saw the cop accused of her kidnap and murder for the first time today. 

Wayne Couzens, 48, made his first appearance at the Old Bailey by video link today from Belmarsh top security jail in south London - a week after police swooped on his home in Deal, Kent.

Couzens will go on trial in October accused of kidnapping and murdering tragic Sarah Everard.

Sarah, 33, vanished after walking home from a friend's house in Clapham, South West London, on March 3.

Her body had to be identified by dental records after being found in a builder's bag in Kent, it is said.

A post-mortem has taken place but a cause of death has not been released - with an inquest due to open and adjourn this week.

Gun cop Couzens, who joined the Met Police in 2018, appeared via videolink from Belmarsh Prison today for his first crown court appearance at the Old Bailey.

Members of Sarah’s daily joined the hearing in the Central Criminal Court by video link, according to court officials. 

They watched remotely as the married dad-of-two - wearing a red sweatshirt and grey jogging bottoms - spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.

He appeared to have a large cut on his head and rocked back and forth during the hearing.

Couzens was remanded in custody ahead of a plea hearing on July 9 at the same court.

A provisional trial date was set for October 25 and is expected to last for four weeks.

Sarah left her pal's home at around 9pm and called her boyfriend as she walked home.

She was on the call for around 14 minutes but there allegedly has been no further activity on her mobile phone since then.

It has also not been recovered yet, it is said.

Sarah was seen alone on CCTV at 9.15pm, again at 9.28pm and was later captured on the camera of a marked police car at 9.32pm.

Her boyfriend reported her missing on March 4.

Couzens is accused of kidnapping Sarah in the Poynders Road area of Clapham.

The cop, who worked on the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command unit, had finished a shift earlier on the morning of March 3 and was not on duty at the time of Sarah's disappearance.

'MURDER' CHARGE

He was charged on Friday with Sarah's kidnap and murder after she vanished while walking home last Wednesday.

The announcement came moments before it emerged Couzens was taken to hospital again for a second time with head injuries.

He went back to St George's Hospital, where he was taken for the first time for treatment, in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Police also revealed Couzens joined the Met in September 2018 where he worked on a response team in Bromley, South East London.

He then moved to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command on 1 February 2020 where he patrolled embassies in the capital.

TRAGIC DEATH

Sarah vanished on March 3 after leaving a friend's home to walk the 50-minute journey back to her flat in Brixton.

She was captured on CCTV at 9.30pm in Clapham after spending 15 minutes on the phone with her boyfriend.

A huge search was launched after she disappeared with police searching ponds in the area.

Her body was discovered on Wednesday night in woodland in Ashford, Kent.

Sarah's death has since sparked vigils across the country and demands for action to tackle violence against women.

The family of Sarah Everard later paid tribute to their "bright and beautiful daughter and sister".

In a statement, Sarah's family said: “Sarah was bright and beautiful - a wonderful daughter and sister. 

“She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable. She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour. 

“She was strong and principled and a shining example to us all.

“We are very proud of her and she brought so much joy to our lives.”