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Sarah Everard: Looking back at the Kent search after Wayne Couzens pleads guilty to murder

Wayne Couzens has pleaded guilty to the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard, after police were forced to scour parts of Kent to try and find the 33-year-old following her disappearance.

KentOnline reporter Alex Jee looks back at the search after the crime that shocked the country.

Sarah Everard disappeared on March 3
Sarah Everard disappeared on March 3

Wednesday, March 3

Sarah Everard leaves her friend's house in Clapham, south London, at around 9pm. She is due to travel to her home in Brixton, a journey of around 50 minutes. She is never seen again.

Saturday, March 6 to Tuesday, March 9

The Metropolitan police issue a missing person's appeal, regularly updating it with new information and images as they receive them.

Investigations continue in several places across London, with the force saying they remained "open minded as to all possibilities" over the disappearance after visiting 750 homes and fielding more than 120 calls about the incident.

Police searching at the Deal home of Wayne Couzens. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Police searching at the Deal home of Wayne Couzens. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Morning of Wednesday, March 10

Just before midnight, Couzens is seen by neighbours being led away from his house in handcuffs.

Shortly after, the Met Police announce that they have arrested a serving police officer, while a woman has also been taken into custody on suspicion of assisting an offender.

Forensic officers are seen examining a house in Freeman's Way, Deal, with a tent erected and a car removed from the property for further examination.

Investigative teams also start searching an area of woodland near an abandoned leisure complex in Great Chart near Ashford.

A car was removed at Freemens Way. Picture: Barry Goodwin
A car was removed at Freemens Way. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Afternoon of Wednesday, March 10

As a heavy media presence gathers outside the abandoned complex, the Met Police announce Couzens has been arrested on suspicion of kidnap and murder, as well as an unrelated count of indecent exposure.

Investigators also tape off Couzens' former family garage in Central Road in Dover.

Dame Cressida Dick announces that unidentified human remains have been found in Ashford.

Police searching for Sarah in Great Chart, near Ashford. Picture: Barry Goodwin
Police searching for Sarah in Great Chart, near Ashford. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Thursday, March 11

The Metropolitan Police reveals the officer suspected of kidnapping and murdering Ms Everard has been taken to hospital for a head wound sustained while in custody.

Scotland Yard said the suspect was treated, discharged and returned to the police station where he is being held.

Friday, March 12

Police confirm the body found in Ashford is that of Sarah, after identifying her through dental records.

Tributes were left outside the leisure complex in Great Chart
Tributes were left outside the leisure complex in Great Chart

Met police assistant commissioner Nick Ephgrave said: As you know, on Wednesday evening detectives investigating the disappearance of Sarah Everard discovered a body secreted in woodland in Kent.

“The body has now been recovered and formal identification procedure has now been undertaken. I can now confirm that it is the body of Sarah Everard.”

Couzens is charged with Sarah's kidnap and murder. He is taken to hospital for the second time with another head injury, and is discharged once more.

Searches continue at the Great Chart site.

Police at Great Chart on the second day of the search
Police at Great Chart on the second day of the search

Saturday, March 13

Couzens is brought to a magistrates' court to face charges and is remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey.

Sunday, March 14 to Monday, March 15

Search teams are sent to Sandwich as part of the investigation, with specialist dive teams called in.

The force combs areas including The Ropewalk and the car park of Co-op in an operation scaling a square mile and involving up to 50 officers.

Police searching in Sandwich as part of Sarah Everard investigation. Picture: UKNiP
Police searching in Sandwich as part of Sarah Everard investigation. Picture: UKNiP

Tuesday, March 16

Couzens appears at the Old Bailey, and speaks only to confirm his name and date of birth.

Thursday, March 18

An inquest into Sarah's death opens after an initial, inconclusive post mortem. It is immediately suspended pending the criminal investigation, and a second post mortem is ordered.

Saturday, March 20

The search in Great Chart finally comes to an end.

The search in Great Chart ended on March 20. Picture: Barry Goodwin
The search in Great Chart ended on March 20. Picture: Barry Goodwin

Wednesday, March 24

The Commander in charge of the search operation thanks the people of Sandwich as he hands back the cordoned-off areas of the town following extensive searches.

Tuesday, June 8

Mr Couzens appears at the Old Bailey and pleads guilty to kidnapping and raping Sarah.

The court hears the 48-year-old accepted responsibility for her killing, but does not ask him to enter a plea to a charge of murder.

Tributes were left outside the leisure complex in Great Chart
Tributes were left outside the leisure complex in Great Chart

Today; Friday, July 9

Couzens appears in court again and pleads guilty to Sarah's murder.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent

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