Today at six. a met police officer has pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and rape of sarah everard. she disappeared while walking home in march. her death sparked a national debate about the safety of women. wayne couzens accepts he killed ms everard, but he won t enter a plea until medical reports are completed. also tonight. more support for greater manchester to increase vaccinations and testing. people are being advised to minimise travel in or out of the area. it s where the indian or delta variant of covid is spreading fastest. i want to encourage everyone in manchester and lancashire to get the tests on offer. we know that this approach can work. the sun is out, the beaches are ready but where are the tourists?
Also had information that has helped us to prevent more than ten planned mergers within sweden. this operation mergers within sweden. this operation has mergers within sweden. this operation has dealt - mergers within sweden. this operation has dealt a serious blow to organised crime, not only because of those arrested, but because those still at large will not be sure who or what they can trust. gordon corera, bbc news. the time is 16 minutes past six. our top story this evening. a met police officer has pleaded guilty to the kidnapping and rape of sarah everard. wayne couzens accepts he killed ms everard, but he won t enter a plea till medical reports are completed. and coming up the british banger and why it s taking centre stage in a row about post brexit trading arrangements. coming up in sportsday on the bbc news channel. we ll be live in baku as wales make their final preparations ahead of the delayed euro 2020. they face switzerland in their first match on saturday.
Wayne couzens has pleaded guilty to kidnapping and raping sarah everard. the 33 year old went missing in march as she walked home from a friend s house in south london. her body was found a week later in woodland near ashford in kent. couzens made his appearance at the old bailey on a video link. the court heard he accepted responsibility for ms everard s death but he was not asked to enter a plea on the charge of murder. our special correspondent lucy manning is there for us. sarah everard s death shook the country. how could a young woman disappear on her way home? and it did galvanise women to talk about the sexual abuse and harassment they had received, but at its heart it was about the loss felt by the everard family. one can only feel immense sadness for her family as they sat in court today to hear
Serving metropolitan police officer wayne couzens admits that he did kidnap and rape sarah. just walking home. sarah everard should have expected to get there safely and if she faced danger, a policeman should have helped. instead that police officer, wayne couzens, admitted today he had raped and kidnapped the 33 year old. couzens, with his head bowed, twice replied, guilty, sir, when asked how he wanted to plead. sarah everard disappeared while walking home by clapham common. today in court wayne couzens also accepted responsibility for her killing, but he wasn t asked to plead guilty or not guilty on the murder charge because the court wants medical reports before then. the marketing executive had so much to live for, a job in london, a boyfriend, a loving family. couzens was a police protection officer who gave her none. the everard family made the painful journey to court today.
And rapist and suspected murderer was in their ranks. a week later, sarah s remains were finally discovered, hidden in woodland in kent 30 miles from couzens family home in deal. couzens is charged with murdering her some time between the 2nd and 10th of march. the loss of a daughter, sister and girlfriend cannot be fully comprehended, but the country reflected their grief, united in its sadness for the everard family, and its anger that women were not, and never have been, safe on the streets. from royalty to local residents, they came for sarah and for women everywhere. in a month wayne couzens will appear in court again still accused of murder. an officer who has already betrayed his position and left so many women feeling unsafe, but most of all a betrayal of sarah everard and her right