I see my girl in dream and scream: Don’t believe him... run!
TORMENTED Susan Everard talks to her daughter in her dreams, she revealed, and silently screams at her to escape her killer’s clutches.
In an impact statement read in court, she said: ‘The feeling of loss is so great, it is visceral. With the sorrow come waves of panic at not being able to see her again. We kept her dressing gown – it smells of her and I hug that instead.
‘Sarah died in horrendous circumstances. I am tormented at the thought of what she endured. In the evenings, at the time she was abducted, I let out a silent scream, “Don’t get in the car, Sarah. Don’t believe him. Run”.
‘It is torture to think of it. Sarah was handcuffed, unable to defend herself and there was no-one to rescue her. She spent her last hours on this earth with the very worst of humanity.
‘She lost her life because Wayne Couzens wanted to satisfy his perverted desires. Burning her body was the final insult – it meant we could never again see her sweet face and never say goodbye. I yearn for her. I remember all the lovely things about her: she was caring, she was funny. She was clever, but she was good at practical things too. She was a beautiful dancer. She was a wonderful daughter.’
Mrs Everard added: ‘The other night, I dreamt Sarah appeared at home. In my dream, I held her and could feel her physically. We were comforting her, saying, “It’s alright Sarah, it’s all right”. I would give anything to hold her once more. I hope I dream that dream again.’
Her husband, Jeremy, ordered Couzens to ‘Look at me’ before telling him: ‘The impact of what you have done will never end. The horrendous murder of my daughter Sarah is in my mind all the time and will be for the rest of my life.
‘A father wants to look after his children and fix everything. You have deliberately and with premeditation stopped my ability to do that. Sarah was handcuffed and unable to defend herself. I can never forgive you taking Sarah away from us.’
Her voice shaking, Sarah’s sister Katie told Couzens: ‘Look at me. You treated her as if she was nothing. Placed more emphasis on satisfying your disgusting perversions than on a life. Her life.
‘You disposed of my sister’s body like it was rubbish. Fly-tipped her like she meant nothing. She meant everything.’