Sarah Everard death inquest: Boyfriend raised alarm when victim missed work, body released to family for funeral
An inquest on the case of Sarah Everard's death was heard on Thursday, March 18, in Maidstone, Kent in the UK. The proceedings began with senior coroner Patricia Harding who had requested for a second post-mortem examination on Wednesday, March 17, after the first one proved to be inconclusive.
The inquest also heard that the marketing executive's boyfriend raised an alarm when the 33-year-old missed a work meeting. As the inquest proceeds, the police continue to investigate Everard's disappearance and subsequent death.
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At the County Hall, Harding told the hearing that "the pathologist has not given a medical cause of death." However, she did confirm that a "natural disease" was not found in Everard, which could have caused her death. Further tests and checks are expected to establish how Everard died. She also added, "The body has now been released to the family so that a funeral can take place."
Everard's family -- mother, father, brother, and sister -- attended the hearing remotely and Harding told the family, "It only leaves me to say to the family members who are watching these proceedings how very sorry I am for your loss." Detective Inspector Lee Tullett also attended the hearing and spoke further about how Everard's boyfriend had raised an alarm about the missing victim after she did not attend a meeting.
Tullett also said, "From her last movements we have ascertained she attended a friend from university's address for dinner in Clapham in south London," further adding, "She left about 9 pm. She made an approximately 15-minute phone call which terminated at 9.27pm. There was no further activity we have been able to establish on her phone, and no social media presence either."
Tullett then stated, "She failed to attend a meeting at work the following day. It was all very much out of character and at that point, her boyfriend Josh grew concerned having not heard from her for some time. A missing person enquiry was started on Thursday, March 4, and continued into Friday and onwards. From our inquiries, we were able to some degree to plot Sarah's route on her way home."
Everard had gone missing on March 3 while she was on her way home after visiting a friend who was in South London. It was reported that Everard's body had to be identified using dental records because it was found in a builder's bag in Kent. The one to be charged in the case of Everard's death is 48-year-old Wayne Couzens, a Metropolitan police officer.
Speaking of Everard's death, Prime Minister of UK, Boris Johnson said that the incident “has triggered a reaction I believe is wholly justified and understandable.” He then added that the government is "always happy to look at new proposals.” Party leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer has called for a new law on street harassment in addition to toughening the law on stalking.