Sarah Everard died from compression of the neck, police reveal

Details released of postmortem examination of 33-year-old who disappeared while walking home

Sarah Everard went missing while walking home in the UK's capital city. EPA

Sarah Everard, the London woman allegedly murdered by a Metropolitan Police officer, died from compression of the neck.

Police said the finding was made during a postmortem.

Everard, 33, went missing on March 3 while walking home in Clapham, south London.

Her body was found a week later in woodland in Ashford, Kent, about two hours by car from Clapham.

The Met said: "A post-mortem examination into the death of Sarah Everard held at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford has given cause of death as compression of the neck.

"Sarah's family have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers."

Serving Met police officer Wayne Couzens, 33, from Deal, Kent, was charged with her kidnap and murder.

A provisional trial date has been set for October.

Everard’s death triggered an outpouring of grief in the UK's capital, with many women speaking up about their experiences walking home in the capital.

The Met was also criticised for what many said was a heavy-handed approach to policing a vigil for Everard held in Clapham Common.

Police attempted to break up the gathering for breaching coronavirus restrictions.

An investigation was launched after pictures showed officers pinning women to the ground while attempting to arrest them.

The UK’s police watchdog found police “did their best to peacefully disperse the crowd”, but said better communication and a “more conciliatory response after the event might have served the Met’s interests better”.