Life tariff on trial
Couzens alleged remorse ‘key to his freedom bid’
WARPED Wayne Couzens is fighting for his freedom despite being given a whole life tariff for the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard.
The former Met Police officer’s lawyers told the Court of Appeal his penalty should be reduced to a regular life sentence with the prospect of release.
Jim Sturman QC said Couzens has shown remorse and “accepts his crimes are abhorrent and deserves decades in jail”.
He added: “The matter is whether or not a term of minimum 35 to
39 years before release or a whole life order is merited.”
Mr Sturman said that unlike serial killer Levi Bellfield, who strutted in his trial, Couzens had pleaded guilty and was too ashamed to look at Sarah’s family at the Old Bailey.
Mr Sturman added: “The combination of his remorse and his guilty pleas should balance out that aggravating factor which clearly exists, of him being a police officer.” But Tom
Little QC, representing the Attorney General, said the crimes in 2021 of Couzens, 48, were of the “utmost seriousness”. He added: “His criminality was a fundamental attack, in reality, on our democratic way of life. “A police officer is in a uniquely powerful position.” Couzens is one of 64 inmates in Britain who can never be freed. The appeal was heard by five judges, including Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett.
They are also considering a bid to raise the terms given to Emma Tustin, 29 years, and Thomas Hughes, 21 years, the killers of his son Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, six. Jordan Monaghan’s minimum 40-year term for the murder of two of his children and his new partner is being reviewed, along with Ian Stewart’s whole life term.
He killed fiancee Helen Bailey in 2016 and his first wife Diane in 2010 but is appealing his sentence. The judgments were reserved.