Sarah Everard police seal off new wooded area in Sandwich, Kent, as they continue carrying out searches in relation to her murder
- Police investigating Sarah Everard’s murder cordon off area in Sandwich, Kent
- Body of missing 33-year-old was found in Great Chart, near Ashford Wednesday
- Serving Met Police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, has been charged with murder
Police have closed off a pathway in a Kent town as part of their investigation into the murder of Sarah Everard.
Met detectives have cordoned a large area in Sandwich, 30 miles from the woodland where the body of the missing 33-year-old was discovered.
Officers have been seen combing along a pathway next to a stream, and have set up a base in the town centre.
Scotland Yard would not comment on the new area of investigation, but the local council confirmed that the pathway had been taped off.
Met detectives have cordoned a large area in Sandwich, 30 miles from the woodland where the body of the missing 33-year-old was discovered
The council statement read: ‘Sandwich Town Council is in contact with Kent Police on behalf of the Metropolitan Police in relation to ongoing investigations associated to the murder of Sarah Everard.
‘Police have requested that residents do not gather trying to ascertain information or details.
‘The police have cordoned off the Rope Walk between Malcolm Waites Garage/Cow Leas Meadow all the way through the town.’
The public has been advised to stay away from the area in order to follow lockdown restrictions.
A spokesperson for Met Police said: ‘Police have been searching areas in London and Kent as part of the investigation. We are not giving a running commentary.’
Wayne Couzens, a serving Metropolitan Police officer has been charged with Ms Everard’s murder and kidnap after disappeared as she walked home to Brixton from a friend’s house in Clapham, south London, on March 3.
The 48-year-old, from Deal, appeared in court to confirm his name and address during a short hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
The court heard Miss Everard’s body was found inside a builder’s bag in Kent and identified through the use of dental records.
Appearing in court wearing a grey tracksuit and bearing a red mark on his head, Couzens stood as the charges were put to him before being remanded in custody before his case is sent to the Old Bailey on March 16.
The Met Police revealed that Couzens joined the force two years ago in September 2018 when he worked for a response team covering the Bromley area.
He then moved to the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command in February last year.