Gransnet forums

News & politics

Wayne Couzens

(78 Posts)
62Granny Thu 30-Sep-21 14:29:00

He pleaded guilty and I think deservedly got a whole life sentence, but I do not think this is his only major crime he has somehow due to his position managed to cover them up, no one goes from " flashing" to murder and rape in one fell swoop I am sure as time goes on other crimes will come to light. My thoughts are with her parents and family a friends.

25Avalon Thu 30-Sep-21 14:58:04

Terrible terrible case. The police need to do more about vetting their officers and making sure safeguards are in place. His behaviour was known for years, reading violent sexual pornography, and colleagues called him “The rapist”. He abused his position as a police officer to get Sarah to willingly get into his car with her hands handcuffed behind her back. Anyone else she would have run or screamed like hell and maybe had a chance. She had no chance. Who’d trust a policeman now? Cressida Dicks should resign. An enquiry needs to take place and safeguards put into place.

The agony Sarah’s parents and friends are going through will never go away. I am glad his life sentence means life and in all probability spent in solitary confinement to protect him from other prisoners.

MaizieD Thu 30-Sep-21 15:02:52

He isn't the only bad apple.

I think it's time that Cressida Dick resigned.

www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/mar/20/revealed-the-grim-list-of-sex-abuse-claims-against-metropolitan-police

Grandma70s Thu 30-Sep-21 15:10:24

Obviously we feel for her parents, but I always wonder what the parents of the abuser feel. They may be perfectly decent people. Can you imagine being the parent of a murderer? Could anything be worse?

sodapop Thu 30-Sep-21 15:14:24

Yet more cover ups by the Met. Maybe the murder of Sarah Everard could have been avoided if action had been taken against Couzens for his earlier offences. Seems like his colleagues knew there was a problem but no action taken. Shameful.

Newatthis Thu 30-Sep-21 15:19:38

Grandma70's - 'Can you imagine being the parent of a murderer? Could anything be worse? ' - yes, losing your child in such a violet way is infinitely worse. The police and the armed forces are vetted, however, it doesn't stop these evil people slipping through.

MissAdventure Thu 30-Sep-21 15:24:34

My sympathies are entirely with Sarah's family.
There can be nothing worse than what they have to endure.

Grandma70s Thu 30-Sep-21 15:29:43

I still think being the parent of an utterly evil person must be truly terrible.

Kate1949 Thu 30-Sep-21 15:37:55

I agree but being the parents of a murdered child is SO much worse.

lemsip Thu 30-Sep-21 15:54:31

oh dear has it come down to discussing what is the most horrifying.. being mother of murderer or mother of victim?
what an awful discussion......

Lincslass Thu 30-Sep-21 15:57:12

lemsip

oh dear has it come down to discussing what is the most horrifying.. being mother of murderer or mother of victim?
what an awful discussion......

Absolutely.

M0nica Thu 30-Sep-21 16:03:21

62Granny no one goes from " flashing" to murder and rape in one fell swoop Yes, they do. Colin Pitchfork and many others went straight to rape and murder, without the flashing and many trials show that the accused had dabbled in lower grade offences first.

Sarnia Thu 30-Sep-21 16:04:12

I am glad he has a whole life sentence. For me life should mean life, anyway, not a measly few years. The victim statements read out by her parents and sister were utterly heartbreaking. I don't know how you start to pick up the pieces to live again. I feel sorry for everyone touched by this tragic case. To those of you who are deciding who is suffering the most, for goodness sake, get a grip and be damn glad it isn't you.

Sparklefizz Thu 30-Sep-21 16:07:36

I cried at the victim statements. So so awful.

25Avalon Thu 30-Sep-21 16:13:06

Wayne Couzens had a choice. Sarah had none. Her family will relive her agony for ever, imagining her terror, her pain, her despair. Couzens family will never experience that. They may have already suspected the kind of man he was. To me it is most important that every possible step is taken to avert such an event by a police officer ever happening again.

Sarnia Thu 30-Sep-21 16:19:16

25Avalon

Wayne Couzens had a choice. Sarah had none. Her family will relive her agony for ever, imagining her terror, her pain, her despair. Couzens family will never experience that. They may have already suspected the kind of man he was. To me it is most important that every possible step is taken to avert such an event by a police officer ever happening again.

There are no winners here 25Avalon. Making comparisons and assumptions about who is suffering most are odious and unnecessary.

Ladyleftfieldlover Thu 30-Sep-21 16:20:27

Someone mentioned the angst suffered by the parents of a murderer. But this awful man had a wife and young family, I assume they will have to change their names and start by a new life. I read the witness statements given Sarah Everard’s family. So moving. How on Earth can they even begin to come to terms with something like this? The young teacher’s murder was horrific but it sounds like it was very quick. The other young woman must have known what was going to happen for hours. So awful.

MissAdventure Thu 30-Sep-21 16:26:06

It's just horrific for everybody involved.
Couzens' family, Sarah's family, and anyone else unfortunate enough to be caught up in this; that goes without saying.

25Avalon Thu 30-Sep-21 17:52:46

Sarnia you still miss the main point - steps need to be taken by the police to improve their procedures and vetting processes.

Smileless2012 Thu 30-Sep-21 18:04:35

My sympathies are with all who have been affected. Sarah's family and Couzen's.

As the judge said, his wife and children are going to have to live with this for the rest of their lives. Thank goodness he'll die in prison, it's what he deserves.

BlueBelle Thu 30-Sep-21 18:13:24

Another worrying aspect is that his colleagues knew about him flashing women up to a few days before the murder and he was even nicknamed ‘the rapist’ and yet no one did anything or said anything
How come none of them had a conscience I believe that is extremely worrying and does point a finger at are the right men in our police force
I believe 16 other officers are being investigated about this one case

lavenderzen Thu 30-Sep-21 18:21:12

I did wonder as 62Granny says what else there is known about him, or the police vetting officers should have known/do know about him.

It is the most horrendous crime and absolutely devastating for Sarah's family - it must never leave you. I feel so sorry for them.

And this monster is given a life sentence, should have been hung.

Allsorts Thu 30-Sep-21 18:30:13

I can’t imagine what Sarah’s family and friends are going through. It will haunt them forever. The family of Wayne must be traumatised as well, how do they cope. Putting him in prison for the rest of his life stops him doing it to anyone else but it changes nothing, Sarah is gone. I cannot understand why any officer flashing was not disciplined and dealt with most promptly, he shouldn't have been allowed to continue in the police service.

MissAdventure Thu 30-Sep-21 18:33:02

I think a lot of recent events show that there are cases of the wrong kind of people joining the police force, for the worst of reasons.
Or perhaps power fuels their egos to commit more and more brutality to others.

maddyone Thu 30-Sep-21 18:40:48

I'm glad he got a whole life sentence. It's what he deserves for such a vile crime.
My sympathies are with Sarah's family. Their pain must be unimaginable.