*This article contains references to sexual assault, rape, and kidnap.
He filed the appeal yesterday.
The police officer who murdered Sarah Everard is set to appeal his whole life sentence.
Wayne Couzens has this week filed an appeal against the sentence handed down to him in September for the kidnap, rape and murder of 33-year-old Everard.
A Court of Appeal official said on Wednesday: “An application (for permission to mount an appeal against sentence) has been lodged.”
Couzens was convicted of the murder of Everard some weeks ago. The court heard that he approached Everard while she was walking home from a friend’s house and ‘arrested’ her. Couzens was off-duty from his Metropolitan Police position at the time.
Couzens received a whole life order from the Old Bailey, meaning that he will never be eligible for parole.
The family of Everard said at the time that they were “pleased” with the verdict, even though “nothing can make things better, nothing can bring Sarah back.”
“The world is a safer place with him imprisoned,” they said. “It is almost seven months since Sarah died and the pain of losing her is overwhelming. We miss her all the time.”
Everard’s death sparked nationwide protests across the UK concerning the safety of women on the streets. A vigil for Sarah in Clapham Commons also gained international interest after Met Police used force on a number of attendees.
The news of Couzens’ appeal has led to much anger and frustration online. It is not yet known when the murderer’s appeal will be considered.
