A Met Police Officer in the United Kingdom has been charged for the abduction and murder of a girl, Sarah Everard, who disappeared as she walked home in south London.
The body of 33-year-old Sarah was found in a forest in Kent more than a week after she was last spotted on March 3.
The police officer, Wayne Couzens, 48, will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court later and will be charged with her murder.
Everard was last seen walking alone down a main road in Clapham at 21:30 GMT, with police saying it was unclear whether she reached her home in Brixton.
Everard’s body was found by police searching woodland near Ashford, Kent, on Wednesday.
Met Police Assistant Commissioner Nick Ephgrave said Ms Everard’s family had been “informed of this development and remain supported by specialist officers”.
“I would like at this stage to pay tribute to Sarah’s family for their fortitude and forbearance through what can only have been the most intensely difficult few days, our thoughts remain with them as this matter progresses,” he said.
“The investigation continues, of course, supported by hundreds of officers from across the Met, as well as colleagues in Kent Police.”
Ms Everard’s disappearance when she was walking home along a main road in Clapham on 3 March has prompted a public debate on women’s safety.
Vice-chancellor Prof Stuart Corbridge of Durham University, from where Sarah graduated, said marketing executive Ms Everard studied geography at St Cuthbert’s Society.
“Sarah was a popular and lively member of our college community and retained a large Durham University friendship group,” he said.
“Our thoughts remain with her family and friends at this extremely difficult time.”
