SARAH Everard's body has been released to her heartbroken family for a funeral, her inquest heard today.
A coroner opened proceedings in Maidstone, Kent, this morning as police continue their investigations into what happened to the 33-year-old.
It comes after a second post-mortem examination was carried out on Sarah Everard's body when the first proved inconclusive, police said.
The inquest, held at the County Hall, was opened and adjourned this morning.
Sarah's mum, dad, brother and sister attended the hearing remotely.
DI Lee Tullet, who is investigating the case, said: "Police were first informed on Thursday March 4 when Sarah’s boyfriend reported her missing with grave concerns."
The hearing was told a second post-mortem was provided on request of the coroner rather than cops.
It was then revealed that her body has been released to her family for a funeral.
Ms Everard went missing on March 3 while walking home after visiting a friend in south London
It comes as police investigating Sarah murder cordoned off two sites in Kent as they widen the search.
Officers yesterday taped up an abandoned builder's yard in Sandwich, about 30 miles from where 33-year-old Sarah's body was found.
Cops were pictured outside the gates to the builder's yard, which contains a concrete mixing machine, a large skip and a lorry box.
Land beside a former St John's Ambulance base in Dover has also been cordoned off by police.
Officers were spotted arriving in a van yesterday afternoon carrying tools, including what looked like shovels, reports KentOnline.
And police divers are searching a section of Delf Stream in Sandwich, Kent for a third day, hunting for Sarah Everard's phone, Metro reported.
Follow our live blog below for the latest developments in the story…
- Hana Carter
JOHNSON AND STARMER CALL FOR CULTURAL AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Boris Johnson agreed Sarah’s death must be a “watershed moment” to help prevent violence towards females.
The PM and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer yesterday vowed to work together for “cultural and social change”.
Mr Johnson said the killing of marketing executive Sarah “has triggered a reaction I believe is wholly justified and understandable”.
Sir Keir Starmer called for a specific new law on street harassment and also for toughening the law on stalking.
- John Hall
SAFETY APP SEES SURGE AFTER SARAH’S DEATH
A personal safety app created in the wake of a 20 year old hairdresser’s murder by her jealous ex-boyfriend seven years has seen a surge in downloads since the death of Sarah Everard.
Hollie Guard, named after tragic Hollie Hazzard, who was killed in February 2014, has now been downloaded by more than 200,000 people, said a spokesperson for a charity set up in her memory.
A ‘significant number’ of the downloads have come since marketing executive Sarah Everard was kidnapped and murdered.
“The personal safety app was born from a chance meeting between PanicGuard founder, Mikkel Dissing, and the Gazzard family, who tragically lost their daughter, Hollie, at the hands of her ex-partner at a hair salon in Gloucester,” the spoksperson said.
“Hollie’s father, Nick, set-up the Hollie Gazzard Trust to raise awareness of domestic violence and partnered with PanicGuard to produce Hollie Guard – a free mobile app that raises an alert with a simple shake.”
- John Hall
VIGILS IMPORTANT BUT ‘COULD BE SUPERSPREADING’
Dr Hilary this week warned vigils in memory of Sarah Everard are “superspreading” events for Covid “however strong people feel”.
The Good Morning Britain doc said he understood how important the memorials were after the 33-year-old vanished – with a cop since charged over her murder.
Speaking of the mass protests on Good Morning Britain today, Dr Hilary said he expected the UK would see another wave in two to three weeks after the gatherings.
He said: “I know how important the protest for Sarah Everard is… but we have to be really careful. However strongly you feel it is putting lives at risk down the line.
“I’m all in favour of peaceful protest with a cause as great as this but there must be a creative way of doing it.”
- Hana Carter
SARAH IDENTIFIED BY DENTAL RECORDS
Sarah's body had to be identified by dental records after being found in a builder's bag in Kent, it is said.
Serving police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, from Deal, has been charged with her murder.
Sarah's heartbroken family saw Couzens for the first time on Tuesday when he appeared at the Old Bailey.
They watched remotely as the married dad-of-two – wearing a red sweatshirt and grey jogging bottoms – spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address.
- Hana Carter
BOYFRIEND REPORTED HER MISSING WITH 'GRAVE CONCERNS'
DI Lee Tullet, who is investigating the case, said: "Police were first informed on Thursday March 4 when Sarah’s boyfriend reported her missing with grave concerns."
The hearing was told a second post-mortem was provided on request of the coroner rather than cops.
- John Hall
POLICE WATCHDOG LAUNCH NEW PROBE INTO MET’S HANDLING OF SARAH EVERARD CASE
The police watchdog has announced two new separate investigations relating to the Sarah Everard case.
One probe will examine how suspect Wayne Couzens sustained head injuries in custody.
The other will look into an “inappropriate” graphic allegedly shared by a cop who took part in search operations.
Read more here.
- John Hall
KENT SCHOOLGIRLS FOUND
Two schoolgirls have been found safe and well in Kent having gone missing less than a week after Sarah Everard's body was found in woodlands.
Chloe Sutton, 14, and Grace Perry, 13, were last seen in Ashford, Kent, at 2.10pm on March 15.
Kent Police were worried for their welfare and appealed for information to help locate the teenagers.
But in an update today, the force said: "Two teenage girls reported missing from Ashford on 15 March have been found safe and well.
"Thank you all for sharing our appeal to find them."
- Hana Carter
SARAH'S BODY HAS BEEN RELEASED TO HER FAMILY
Sarah Everard's body has been released to her heartbroken family for a funeral, her inquest heard today.
A coroner opened proceedings in Maidstone, Kent, this morning as police continue their investigations into what happened to the 33-year-old.
It comes after a second post-mortem examination was carried out on Sarah Everard's body when the first proved inconclusive, police said.
The inquest, held at the County Hall, was opened and adjourned this morning.
- John Hall
POWERS ON PROTESTS
A controversial new policing bill sailed through Parliament last night, handing sweeping new powers to cops and judges.
MPs voted 359 to 263 to approve the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, despite Labour’s efforts under Sir Keir Starmer to sink it and campaigners’ fears it will limit protest rights.
But Justice Secretary Robert Buckland insisted he did “not see what the fuss is about” over controversial powers to curb protesters.
One of the powers imposes conditions on non-violent protests judged to be too noisy and thereby causing “intimidation or harassment”.
- John Hall
'WATERSHED MOMENT'
Boris Johnson agreed that the murder of Sarah Everard is a “watershed moment” as the nation attempts to tackle violence against women and girls.
The PM and Sir Keir Starmer both vowed to work together for "cultural and social change” following the abduction and murder of the 33 year-old marketing manager.
In a somber PMQs Sir Keir said: “The awful events of the last week have lifted a veil on the epidemic of violence against women and girls.
“This must also be a watershed moment to change how we as a society treat women and girls and how we prevent and end sexual violence and harassment."
- John Hall
POST-MORTEM INCONCLUSIVE
A second post-mortem examination is being carried out on Sarah Everard's body after the first proved inconclusive, police have said.
The procedure was being carried out in Kent on Wednesday afternoon, ahead of an inquest hearing that has now been adjourned.
Ms Everard, 33, went missing on March 3 while walking home after visiting a friend in south London.
- John Hall
'FULL REPORT' WANTED
The Home Secretary has urged against "prejudging" a review into the actions of officers at the vigil for Sarah Everard at Clapham Common.
Priti Patel said the question of whether Metropolitan Police chief Dame Cressida Dick should resign following widespread criticism of the force's handling of the event was one for after a "full report" into the police response.
Chief inspector of constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor has been tasked with carrying out the review and told the PA news agency he was "confident" inspectors would report findings to the Home Secretary within two weeks.
In an interview with ITV's Peston on Wednesday, Ms Patel said: "I work with the commissioner on all sorts of policing issues."
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