Technology

Crowd gathers for vigil to mark five years since Sarah Everard’s death

2026-03-03 19:02
533 views
Crowd gathers for vigil to mark five years since Sarah Everard’s death

Sarah was abducted, raped and murdered by a serving Metropolitan Police officer as she walked home from a friend's house.

Crowd gathers for vigil to mark five years since Sarah Everard’s death Sarah Hooper Sarah Hooper Published March 3, 2026 7:02pm Updated March 3, 2026 7:02pm Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments The crowd gathered to remember Sarah and all other women and girls taken through violence (Pictures: PA/Getty)

About 100 people have gathered for a vigil in south London to mark five years since the death of Sarah Everard.

The crowd arrived at Clapham Common bandstand on Tuesday evening to remember Sarah and all the women and girls whose lives have been taken through violence.

Sarah, a 33-year-old marketing executive, was abducted, raped and murdered by a serving Metropolitan Police officer as she walked home from a friend’s house near the common on March 3, 2021.

He had used his status to trick her into thinking he could arrest her for breaking lockdown rules.

Organised by local news page Best of Clapham, the vigil is also raising funds for London-based charity Solace Women’s Aid, which supports women and children affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.

LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 3: People gather in Clapham Common to mark the fifth anniversary of Sarah Everard's death, and to remember other victims of violence, on March 3, 2026 in London, England. Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, was abducted, raped, and murdered by serving Metropolitan Police officer Constable Wayne Couzens, on March 3, 2021. The crime sparked a national conversation about women's safety, gender-based violence, and the role of police. Couzens is serving a whole-life prison term for Everard's kidnapping and murder. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) The vigil was held near where she was last seen (Picture: Getty) LONDON, ENGLAND - MARCH 3: People gather in Clapham Common to mark the fifth anniversary of Sarah Everard's death, and to remember other victims of violence, on March 3, 2026 in London, England. Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, was abducted, raped, and murdered by serving Metropolitan Police officer Constable Wayne Couzens, on March 3, 2021. The crime sparked a national conversation about women's safety, gender-based violence, and the role of police. Couzens is serving a whole-life prison term for Everard's kidnapping and murder. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images) Sarah was walking home from a friend’s house (Picture: Getty)

Sarah’s mother, Susan Everard, wrote a tribute piece for British Vogue, in which she remembered her daughter’s love of travel, dancing, and her sense of humour, as well as her principled nature.

Sarah had been photographed by Vogue at V Festival in 2010, as part of a street fashion series by the magazine, something her mother said she was ‘thrilled’ to feature in.

She wrote: ‘It was 2010 when the photograph was taken, and, although it is bittersweet, I love to see her, happy and beautiful, with her whole life ahead of her.

‘It was a golden time when she had recently graduated and was back home from travels to Southeast Asia and already making plans for future adventures.’

This Is Not Right

On November 25, 2024 Metro launched This Is Not Right, a campaign to address the relentless epidemic of violence against women.

With the help of our partners at Women's Aid, This Is Not Right aims to shine a light on the sheer scale of this national emergency.

You can find more articles here, and if you want to share your story with us, you can send us an email at [email protected].

Read more:

  • Introducing This Is Not Right: Metro's year-long violence against women campaign
  • Remembering the women killed by men in 2024

Her mum added: ‘She cared about others and worried about us in the pandemic. She had a large network of friends who were dear to her; we meet up with them now to celebrate her.

‘I miss the goodness of Sarah: she was thoughtful and dependable and highly principled.’

Police officers conduct a house-to-house search in Kingswood Road, Brixton, for missing woman Sarah Everard, 33, who left a friend's house in Clapham, south London, on Wednesday evening at around 9pm and began walking home to Brixton. Picture date: Tuesday March 9, 2021. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Yui Mok/PA Wire A desperate search was launched for Sarah after her disappearance (Picture: PA) Sir Mark Rowley said Sarah should ‘still be here’ (Picture: PA)

She remembered how funny her daughter was, describes her as “a beautiful dancer”, and says she misses little things like swapping recipes with her.

More Trending

Britain’s most senior police officer, Sir Mark Rowley, hailed the family’s ‘extraordinary dignity in the face of unbearable grief’ on the fifth anniversary of Sarah’s murder.

‘Sarah Everard should still be here,’ he said. ‘Five years have passed since her senseless and devastating murder.

‘What happened to her was a profound betrayal: of her, of her family and loved ones, and of every person who places their trust in policing.’

He said the fact that she was killed by a serving police officer, Wayne Couzens, was ‘as devastating today as it was in 2021’.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at [email protected].

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Comment now Comments Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google Add as preferred source News Updates

Stay on top of the headlines with daily email updates.

Email I agree to receive newsletters from Metro I agree to receive newsletters from Metro Sign UpSign Up

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Your information will be used in line with our Privacy Policy