Last week in London, police officer Wayne Couzens, 48, was arrested in connection with the disappearance and murder of Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive who was last seen in south London on March 3, in a neighborhood called Clapham. It appeared that Ms. Everard had simply gone out for a walk. 

The tragic death of Sarah Everard has effectively robbed British women of the simple pleasure of going out alone for a safe walk. Diversions like theaters and restaurants have been shut. Getting out for a stroll or run should be the perfect remedy for cabin fever. Not now, according to Mandu Reid, the leader of the Women's Equality Party who is running for Mayor, who told the NY Times, “We’re scared, we’re shaken and we’re intimidated." 

Last Wednesday, human remains were discovered 50 miles south of London in Kent. They tuned out to be from Ms. Everard.  There was an outpouring of grief and shock from the community. It is sad to see the last documented photograph of  the young woman caught on a city camera, wearing a white knitted hat with her mask on and a bright green jacket with black and white checked pants--looking so alive.

The Metropolitan police officer has been charged with kidnapping and murder. He is also facing a separate charge of indecent exposure in another case and the use of excessive force in a third incident that is being investigated.

When will tragedies like this end? It is undisputable that police officers have to be vetted more carefully and monitored regularly to keep checks on their mental health and stability. But could such an atrocious act have been predicted by a professional before it happened?

The British branch of UN Women reported that over 70 percent of English females say they have experienced sexual harassment in public such as unwanted remarks, cat calls, threats, or assaults.

Addressing ways to end violence against woman and girls is on Prime Minister Boris Johnson's agenda. Statistics in the UK show there were more than 55,0000 rapes in England and Wales in 2019 and 2020. This is staggering and unacceptable.

What makes Sarah Everard's death seem even worse is that it was not an invisible force like the novel coronavirus that attacked and killed her, it was allegedly a man entrusted to serve her and sworn to protect her. 

I don't think it's safe for any woman to walk alone at night. But if you must, take pepper spray. keep a rape alarm or whistle in your pocket, let people know where you are traveling or better yet, walk with another person or take your dog. I would say, in light of what's happened, I will never venture out on a solo walk at night again. I wish I felt differently or had confidence that my opinion will change. I don't. There is an evil side to human nature that is pervasive and static--pandemic or not. 

A female accomplice was arrested with Couzens.