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The family of the Metropolitan Police officer arrested on suspicion of murdering Sarah Everard have spoken out for the first time.
Wayne Couzens, 48, was arrested this week in relation to the 33-year-old's disappearance on March 3.
His mother-in-law Nina Sukhoreba,69, has now spoken up in his defence, saying he "could not do anything like this".
"He could not do anything like this," she told the Daily Telegraph.
"He is a wonderful family man, a wonderful man. This just sounds crazy to me."
Ms Sukhoreba, who lives in Ukraine, said she has spoken to her daughter Elena, who is married to Couzens.
"She said Wayne was at work and everything was fine," she said.
"He is a wonderful father. He came to visit with the children and we all walked to the river and he helped me at home and in the garden."
Couzens is a father of two. He was arrested after a car linked to him was allegedly spotted on a dashcam near where Ms Everard was last seen.
According to reports, he serves in the force's Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection Command, and was not on duty at the time of her disappearance.
He was held on Tuesday evening on suspicion of kidnapping Ms Everard, before being further arrested on suspicion of her murder and a separate allegation of indecent exposure.
A woman is also being held on suspicion of assisting an offender.
Following Couzens' arrest, police searched a home and woodland in Kent where they found yet-to-be-identified "human remains", Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick said on Wednesday evening.
Officers were still at the scene by 6am on Thursday morning.
Ms Dick said establishing an ID for the remains "may take some considerable time".
"I completely understand that women in London and the wider public – particularly those in the area where Sarah went missing – will be worried and may well be feeling scared," she said.
"You should expect to see continued high levels of police patrols in that area as well as very significant investigative activity.
"Please report any concerns you may have to us.
"We have been so impressed, and thankful for the public support for the investigation and for sharing our appeals for information and of course we are deeply grateful to the many people who have come forward to assist us.
"Again my thoughts are with Sarah, her family and her loved ones."
On Thursday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson shared his shock at the latest developments in a public statement on the case.
"I am shocked and deeply saddened by the developments in the Sarah Everard investigation," he said.
"Like the whole country my thoughts are with her family and friends. We must work fast to find all the answers to this horrifying crime."
Ms Everard's parents Jeremy, 67, and Sue, 64, travelled to London from their home in York to help search for their daughter.
- Sarah Everard
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