A serving Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with the murder and kidnapping of Sarah Everard.
Wayne Couzens, 48, is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Saturday, March 13, for his first hearing.
He was arrested following an investigation into the disappearance of the 33-year-old marketing executive who disappeared walking home from a friend's house in London on March 3.
Human remains were later discovered in a Kent woodland before being formally identified on Friday.
The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed Couzens had been charged on Friday night.
Rosemary Ainslie, Head of Special Crime at the CPS, said: “Following a referral of evidence by the Metropolitan Police related to the death of Sarah Everard, the CPS has authorised the police to charge Wayne Couzens with murder and kidnapping.
“He will appear at Westminster magistrates' court tomorrow (13 March) for his first hearing.
“The function of the CPS is not to decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but to make fair, independent and objective assessments about whether it is appropriate to present charges to a court to consider.
“Criminal proceedings are now active and nothing should be published that could jeopardise the defendant’s right to a fair trial.”
Sarah’s heartbroken family previously released a statement paying tribute to their ‘bright and beautiful’ daughter.
They said: “Our beautiful daughter Sarah was taken from us and we are appealing for any information that will help to solve this terrible crime.
“Sarah was bright and beautiful - a wonderful daughter and sister. She was kind and thoughtful, caring and dependable.
“She always put others first and had the most amazing sense of humour.
“She was strong and principled and a shining example to us all.
"We are very proud of her and she brought so much joy to our lives.
“We would like to thank our friends and family for all their support during this awful time and we would especially like to thank Sarah’s friends who are working tirelessly to help.
“We are so grateful to the police and would like to thank them for all they are doing. We are now pleading for additional help from the public.
“Please come forward and speak to the police if you have any information. No piece of information is too insignificant. Thank you.”
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