Former Metropolitan Police Constable Samantha Lee faces a disciplinary hearing today (Monday, May 15) for allegedly missing opportunities to apprehend Wayne Couzens prior to his kidnapping, raping, and murder of Sarah Everard.
In March 2021, following a flashing accusation against Couzens, the officer allegedly neglected to conduct “the proper investigative inquiries.”
It is also alleged that PC Lee misled about her actions when questioned, in addition to violating the force’s standards for duties and responsibilities, as well as honesty and integrity.
The allegations against Pc Lee state: “It is alleged that in March 2021 former Pc Lee failed to undertake the correct investigative inquiries into an allegation of indecent exposure (concerning Wayne Couzens as the named suspect) and that she subsequently provided a misleading account of her actions when questioned about them.
“The matter set out above is alleged to amount to gross misconduct in that it is so serious as to justify dismissal.”
In March, Everard’s murderer Couzens was given an additional 19 months in prison after pleading guilty to three counts of indecent exposure, in addition to his existing life sentence.
Two of the exposure allegations allege that he exposed himself to women at a drive-thru restaurant days before the murder.
The misconduct inquiry for PC Lee is taking place at Palestra House in Southwark and is expected to last one week, from Monday, May 16 to Friday, May 23.