Sarah Everard: Human remains found in woods belong to missing woman

The human remains discovered in woodland in Kent, south of London, have been confirmed as belonging to missing woman Sarah Everard.

The human remains discovered in woodland in Kent in the south of England have been confirmed as belonging to missing woman Sarah Everard.

Assistant Commissioner for London’s Metropolitan Police Nick Ephgrave confirmed that the body had been identified as the 33-year-old, who disappeared while walking home from a friend’s house in south London on March 3.

“Our thoughts are with Sarah’s family and loved ones at this difficult time,” the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

A member of the same force serving in London’s diplomatic protection branch has been arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder.

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BREAKING: Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave confirms that the human remains found in a woodland in Kent are those of Sarah Everard.

The 33-year-old went missing in south London on Wednesday 3 March while walking home from a friend's house.

Read more: https://t.co/tyOzsqgEEipic.twitter.com/O5CxxJOGCd

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 12, 2021

Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave has sadly confirmed the body found in the woodland in Kent has been identified as Sarah Everard.

Our thoughts are with Sarah's family and loved ones at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/JhDBflOGe5

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) March 12, 2021

RELATED: Suspect was reported for indecent exposure

“Sarah’s family have been updated with this distressing news,” Assistant Commissioner Ephgrave said.

“Specialist officers remain in constant contact with Sarah’s family, and will continue to support them throughout the investigation and beyond,” he said.

“That investigation continues at a pace and we have hundreds of officers working round the clock to establish the full circumstances of Sarah’s disappearance, and her murder.”

Sarah Everard, 33, disappeared while walking home from Clapham to Brixton in south London on March 3. Picture: Metropolitan Police / AFP

Couzens, a father of two, was arrested on Tuesday on suspicion of abduction and murder. His wife Ukraine-born wife Elena, a 38-year-old laboratory manager, was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, according to The Sun.

CCTV from a London bus reportedly led to the arrest, the UK Telegraph reported.

Ms Everard had already been captured by a doorbell camera as she walked home along the busy Poynders Road — part of London’s South Circular — from Clapham to Brixton at 9.30pm last Wednesday.

She was wearing a green jacket, white beanie and a mask.

pic.twitter.com/FEGF0H8O4r

— Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) March 12, 2021

The shocking case has been followed by an outpouring of grief and anger over the lack of safety for women in public.

There was also rage at the inadequate response from police advising women to prepare themselves for attacks rather than targeting behaviour from men, as well as Met boss Cressida Dick stating that such cases were “incredibly rare”.

“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,” Assistant Commissioner Ephgrave said.

he said he recognised the wider concerns that had been “quite rightly” raised about the safety of women in public spaces.

“I want to say now that this organisation and the men and women in it remained committed to protecting Londoners wherever they are in this city.”

He said that commitment was “undiminished” and if anything, strengthened” by the tragedy.

The anger at the alleged involvement of a police officer has been increased by the fact that he was reported for indecent exposure at a fast food restaurant in south London on February 28, but no action was taken.

Police are now investigating whether he may have shown his warrant card in order to lure the marketing executive into his car.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has started an independent investigation into “whether Metropolitan Police officers responded appropriately” to the report.

A vigil for Ms Everard has been planned for Saturday night on Clapham Common, close to where she was last seen. But police have attempted to prevent the Reclaim These Streets vigil from happening, even with social distancing, because of COVID-19 regulations.

The organisers have started a petition to raise money to fund a legal fightback, and the Women’s Parliamentary Labour Party has spoken out in support of the right to protest.