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

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.

The vigil was held near where she was last seen (Picture: Getty)

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.’

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.’

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.

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’.

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