Police officer Pc Wayne Couzens has accepted responsibility for killing Sarah Everard, a court heard.
The 48-year-old appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday, when he pleaded guilty to the kidnap and rape of Sarah Everard.
The court heard Couzens accepted responsibility for the killing of Ms Everard but was not asked to enter a plea to a charge of murder.
The 33-year-old marketing executive went missing on March 3 as she walked home from a friend’s house in Clapham, south London.
Her disappearance sparked a major police investigation before her body was found in woodland in Kent a week later.
She was reported missing by her boyfriend on March 4 and her body was found hidden in an area of woodland in Ashford, Kent, on March 10.
The Metropolitan Police officer was wearing khaki trousers and a grey sweatshirt as he appeared by video link from Belmarsh jail.
He pleaded guilty to kidnapping Ms Everard “unlawfully and by force or fraud” on March 3.
He also pleaded guilty to a second charge of rape between March 2 and 10.
Couzens was not asked to enter a plea to her murder between March 2 and 10.
The defendant said: “Guilty, sir” when asked for his plea to the first two charges.
The court heard that responsibility for the killing was admitted but medical reports were awaited.
Members of Ms Everard’s family sat in court to witness the defendant enter his pleas.
A further hearing before Lord Justice Fulford is due to take place on July 9.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article