Wayne Couzens

The family’s impact statements had me in tears, those poor, poor people and their lovely daughter. That evil man …

However, there but for the grace of God go I. 12 years ago my elder daughter (aged 23) drove to see a friend in London, in the time of clunky sat navs. She took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in a less than salubrious area, she was waiting at a traffic lights when her car was bumped from behind. Two men got out and told her that she needed to pull round the corner so they could sort this out. She felt something was not right so she locked the doors and they started banging on the door and roof and shouting at her to go round the corner. A car going the opposite way stopped and a man got out, he was an off duty policeman who took control, and the two men fled. He then escorted my daughter to her friends house and the next day she found a note under her windscreen saying if she was worried about anything to contact his police station.

I still thank God for that policeman..

I wouldn't like to wish awful things on somebody, so...... I could make an exception in his case, though.
I would give him the death sentence if I was "in charge".

Wonder how long he will last in a Prison? Ex Policeman, Rapist and Murderer??

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

I cried at the victim statements. So so awful.

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.

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.

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.

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......

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

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

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

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.

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.

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?