Couzens to appeal whole life sentence for murder of Sarah
JAILED Wayne Couzens is seeking permission to appeal against his whole life term for the murder of Sarah Everard.
The Met Police officer used Covid powers to falsely arrest Sarah, 33, as she walked home from a friend’s house in March.
Handing down a whole life sentence at the Old Bailey last month, Lord Justice Fulford said Couzens “used his position as a police officer” to kidnap Sarah in Clapham, south London.
A court official said yesterday: “We have been notified that an appeal has been lodged by Mr Couzens.”
If permission is granted the case will be heard by the Court of Appeal Criminal Division.
Couzens, 48, pleaded guilty to the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah and is one of 61 criminals serving whole life sentences. They are reserved for the most serious crimes such as serial killings and politically motivated murders.
Lord Justice Fulford said by misusing his police role to kidnap, rape and murder Sarah, his crime was “of equal seriousness as a murder carried out for the purpose of advancing a political, religious, racial or ideological cause”.
Couzens joined infamous killers such as Lee Rigby’s murderer Michael Adebolajo, Mark Bridger, who murdered five-year-old April Jones, and Dale Cregan, who killed two police officers.
Moors murderers Ian Brady and
Myra Hindley also got the whole life orders. Serial killer Levi Bellfield is unique in being given two.
An appeal would bring fresh agony for Sarah’s parents, Jeremy and Susan, who watched as he was sentenced at the Old Bailey last month.
The court heard how Couzens used his police warrant card and handcuffs to lure Sarah off the street before strangling her and burning her body.
The judge told Couzens he had shown “no genuine contrition” for his “grotesque” crimes.
Guidelines state that there is a time limit of 28 days to “grant a certificate of fitness for appeal”.
Couzens’ barrister, Jim Sturman QC, argued for a life sentence with a tariff – which would allow him to apply for parole in future – on three grounds: the guilty pleas, underlying depression and no previous convictions for violence.