London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Jan 15, 2025

Wayne Couzens: Met PC thought she was no longer exposure case officer

Wayne Couzens: Met PC thought she was no longer exposure case officer

A former Met PC accused of failing to properly investigate Wayne Couzens after he was accused of flashing thought the case had been given to another officer, a hearing was told.

Couzens killed Sarah Everard in south-west London days after exposing himself to staff at a branch of McDonalds.

Samantha Lee is accused of failing to make "the correct investigative inquiries" into the incidents and lying about her work on the case.

She denies gross misconduct.

A disciplinary hearing has heard that Ms Lee attended the restaurant in Swanley to interview the manager on 3 March, hours before Ms Everard was kidnapped and murdered by Couzens in Clapham.

She said afterwards she believed there was no CCTV footage of the incidents as the restaurant's footage had been deleted.

She previously told the hearing the meeting was her last appointment of the day before having some time off to rest.

Wayne Couzens was already serving life for murdering Sarah Everard when he was sentenced for indecent exposure


On Wednesday, the hearing heard her written response made to claims she had breached standards, dated from June 2021.

In it she said Ch Supt Shepherd had called her during her days off and informed her she was still on the case, which "shocked" her.

"I could not believe that the crime report would be still shown to me, believing that it would have been transferred to MiST (My investigation Support Team)," she wrote.

She added that "had I known, or been aware, that it had not been transferred, I would have transferred it or spoken to a supervisor about it getting transferred".

Ch Supt Shepherd previously told the hearing he had not called her.

The hearing also heard that in an interview in November 2021 she said she had been "quite confident" she had done "what was needed" to have the case referred, and that it should have been cleared with a supervisor.

"After you complete an appointment, supervisors should then check your report and it should be passed onto MiST," she said.

Sarah Everard was murdered by Couzens soon after the indecent exposure incidents


Ms Lee is accused of breaching the force's standards on duties and responsibilities as well as honesty and integrity.

If she is found to have committed gross misconduct, she could be banned from serving in the force again.

In March this year, Couzens was sentenced to 19 months in prison after admitting indecent exposure.

He was already serving life behind bars for Ms Everard's kidnap and murder.

The misconduct hearing continues.

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
S.E.C. Sues Elon Musk Over Alleged Twitter-Related Securities Violations
France Urges EU to Act on Musk's Political Influence as Tensions Rise
Former Special Forces Blast Defense Ministry for Revealing Sensitive Details
Celebrity Responses to California Wildfires: Charity, Criticism, and Controversy
The Wildfires of Los Angeles: A Devastating Impact on Celebrities and California's Leadership
Tragic Loss: Teenager's Death Sparks Community Reflection in Bedford and London
UK Government Proposes Cap on Resale Ticket Prices to Combat Touts
Greenland's Future Caught in Diplomatic Crossfire Between Trump and Europe
EU Prepared to Lead Support for Ukraine Amid US Uncertainty, Says Estonian Prime Minister
Brompton E-Bike Component Diverted to UK Military Drone Production, Causes Delays
Romanian Gang Convicted of Human Trafficking and Exploitation in Dundee
Persistent Cold Snap Grips the UK: Severe Frost and Snow Disrupt Daily Life
Germany Faces Alarming Rise in Homelessness, New Report Shows
China’s Appetite for Salmon: A Game Changer in Global Seafood Markets
Russian Bots Allegedly Amplified NATO Critic Prior to Croatian Election, Researchers Reveal
Armenia Considers EU Membership Referendum Amid Strained Ties with Russia
French Finance Minister Explores Pension Reform Compromise to Secure Budget Agreement
Armenia Considers EU Referendum Amid Growing Rift with Russia
New Wildfire Ignites in Los Angeles as Region Battles Devastating Blazes
The Espionage Unraveled: A Russian Spy Network's Intricacies in the UK
U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Trump's Bid to Delay Sentencing in Hush Money Case
UK Financial Markets Remain Calm Amid Rising Government Borrowing Costs
Stellantis Achieves UK Electric Vehicle Sales Mandate Amid Factory Closure
TikTok Faces Potential Ban in the United States Amid Security Concerns
Pound Plummets to 14-Month Low Amid Concerns Over UK Borrowing Costs
Tensions Rise Over Planned Pro-Palestinian March in London
Bomb Scare in Central London: Abandoned Car Sparks Panic Near Regent Street
Police Seek Suspect in Antisemitic Incident at Liverpool Street Station
Regulatory Reprimand for London Charity Over Fundraising for Israeli Soldier
The Duchess of Sussex Mourns Devastating Loss of Beloved Rescue Dog
From Chairman to Controversial Politician: Rupert Lowe's Journeys in Business and Politics
Metropolitan Police Halts Pro-Palestine March Near BBC Due to Proximity to Synagogue
Inside Warwick Hospital: A Glimpse into the NHS's Battle Against Winter Pressures
Chappell Roan: A Synth-Pop Sensation Emerges as BBC Sound Of 2025 Winner
Search Intensifies for Missing Aberdeen Sisters Eliza and Henrietta Huszti
Pioneering Drug Consumption Room Opens in Glasgow
Ryanair Initiates Legal Action Against Disruptive Passenger in Landmark Case
Former Brexit Negotiator Oliver Robbins Appointed Top Civil Servant at UK Foreign Office
British Hiker Found Deceased Amidst Dolomites Search: Investigation Underway
Pound Falls as UK Borrowing Costs Reach Financial Crisis Levels
Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala Released from Iranian Detention
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Faces Allegations of Childhood Sexual Abuse by Sister
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman Denies Sister's Allegations of Sexual Abuse
UK Markets Under Pressure as Gilt Yields Surge
Arrest Made in Connection to Stabbing of Iranian Journalist in London
Arrest Made in Fatal Drive-By Shooting Outside London Church
Parliamentary Suspension Over Racist Remarks Highlights Tensions in UK Politics
Debate Intensifies Over Call for Child Abuse Inquiry Amidst Musk's Comments
Mark Zuckerberg's U-Turn: Moving Toward Free Speech on Facebook and Instagram, For a Change
Britain's authorities' support for pedophiles has gone insane
×