Western Morning News (Saturday)
Body in woods identified as Sarah Everard
ABODY found hidden in woodland in Kent has been identified as that of 33-year-old Sarah Everard.
A serving Metropolitan Police officer, who is aged in his 40s, remained in custody last night on suspicion of kidnapping and murdering the marketing executive and detectives have been granted more time to question him.
Human remains were found in an area of woodland in Ashford, Kent, on Wednesday.
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave told reporters outside Scotland Yard on Friday: “The body has now been recovered and a formal identification procedure has been undertaken. I can now confirm that it is the body of Sarah Everard.
“Clearly Sarah’s family have been updated with this most distressing news. I just want to pause for a moment and say that my thoughts and prayers, and those of the entire organisation, remain with her and with them at this awful time.”
It comes as Scotland Yard is facing an investigation by the police watchdog into its handling of separate allegations of indecent exposure against the arrested officer, who is in the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command.
It emerged on Friday he was alleged to have twice exposed himself at the same south London fast food restaurant three days before Ms Everard went missing.
The Met said: “On February 28 the Met created a crime report in relation to two separate indecent exposure incidents at a fast food restaurant in south London.”
The Independent Office for Police Conduct is to probe whether two officers “responded appropriately” in their investigation.
The watchdog is also assessing a referral relating to police actions after Ms Everard was reported missing, as well as another in relation to the suspect being taken to hospital. He was treated for a head injury sustained while alone in his cell on Thursday.
The Met said he received immediate first aid and was later discharged from hospital before being returned to the police station where he is being held.
A forensics team was searching an area of land outside the back fence of the suspect’s house in Deal, Kent, on Friday, while uniformed officers were posted at a derelict garage in Dover, which was run by his family.
Ms Everard vanished while walking home from a friend’s flat in south London on March 3.
She is thought to have walked through Clapham Common towards her house in Brixton – a journey which should have taken around 50 minutes – and was last captured on a doorbell camera walking along the A205
Poynders Road towards Tulse Hill at around 9.30pm.
Her suspected kidnap and murder has prompted anger over the safety of women on the UK’s streets.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan, said: “It is devastating news for Sarah Everard’s loved ones that the police have identified her body.
“My deepest sympathies – and those of all Londoners – are with them.”
A vigil was due to take place at Clapham Common bandstand in south London today – but organisers were yesterday seeking legal action after claiming the Metropolitan Police reversed their position on allowing the event to go ahead.
Mr Ephgrave said: “I know that the public feel hurt and angry about what has happened, and those are sentiments that I share personally, and I know my colleagues here at Scotland Yard and across the Met share as well.
“I also recognise the wider concerns that have been raised, quite rightly, about the safety of women in public spaces in London and also elsewhere in the country. I want to say now that this organisation, and the men and women in it, remain committed to protecting Londoners wherever they are in this city. And that commitment is undiminished by these events and if anything that commitment is strengthened by these tragic circumstances.”
On Thursday Ms Everard’s family released a statement describing her as a “shining example to us all”, and said she had “brought so much joy to our lives”.
THE 25th anniversary of the Dunblane tragedy will be marked privately by residents “as is the case every year”, a local minister has said.
Despite churches being closed due to coronavirus restrictions, Rev Colin Renwick, minister at Dunblane Cathedral, will hold worship online on Sunday and remember the victims in prayer.
Sixteen children and teacher Gwen Mayor were murdered by gunman Thomas Hamilton when he opened fire on a gym class at Dunblane Primary School on March 13 1996. The massacre in the Stirlingshire town shocked the nation and led to the UK enforcing some of the strictest firearms legislation in the world.
Rev Renwick said: “Many people in Dunblane will be marking this particular anniversary as they mark March 13 every year – quietly, privately and with respect for those who lost their lives in the tragedy of 25 years ago.”
COUNTRIES should continue to use the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said, saying there was no indication of a link between the jabs and blood clots.
It comes after Thailand said it will delay use of the AstraZeneca vaccine after several European countries temporarily suspended the jabs following a small number of reports of health problems. Speaking via videoconference in Geneva, WHO director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “As countries roll out Covid-19 vaccines, WHO is continuing to keep a close eye on their safety.
“WHO is aware that some countries have suspended the use of AstraZeneca vaccines based on reports of blood clots in some people who have received doses of the vaccine from two batches.
“This measure was taken as a precaution while a full investigation is finalised.
“It’s important to note that the European Medicines Agency has said there is no indication of a link between the vaccine and blood clots and that the vaccine can continue to be used while its investigation is ongoing.”
He said the findings and any change to the organisation’s recommendations following the investigation will be relayed to the public “immediately”.
His comments echoed earlier remarks made by WHO spokesperson Dr Margaret Harris, who described the vaccine as “excellent”. Yong Poovorawan, an adviser to Thailand’s vaccination programme, said the delay, pending an investigation into the cause of reported side-effects, will not have a big impact on the rollout.
It came as AstraZeneca released a new statement saying there is no evidence of an increased risk of pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis with the vaccine. It said that, in fact, the occurrence is “significantly lower” in those who have been vaccinated than what would be expected among the general population.
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has said there is no evidence to suggest the vaccine causes blood clot problems, and that people should still get their Covid-19 jab when asked to do so.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has also backed the jab’s safety and said there have been 30 reports of blood clots among close to five million people given the vaccine across Europe.
On Thursday, Denmark, Norway and Iceland said they were temporarily halting all AstraZeneca vaccinations to investigate reports of blood clots among people who have had the jab.
Italy also followed Austria, Estonia, Latvia, Luxembourg and Lithuania in banning jabs from one particular batch of one million AstraZeneca vaccines, which was sent to 17 countries, after reports of a death.