A woman has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of her fiancé after she repeatedly drove her car at him, dragging him more than 150 metres along the road. Alice Wood and Ryan Watson, both aged 24, had been arguing after a party in May 2022, where they had attended with staff and service users of brain injury charity Headway, where Watson was a support worker. Jurors heard that Wood drove at Watson three times before he was killed.
Although Wood claimed the incident was a “tragic accident”, she was found guilty of his murder last month at Chester Crown Court, where she was sentenced to a minimum of 18 years in jail. Tension had been building between the couple, as Watson appeared to be “clicking” with another woman at the party, causing Wood to become agitated. Wood, who was due to sit exams in theology, philosophy and ethics and had a scholarship for a part-time research masters at Cambridge, accused Watson of flirting with the other woman.
The argument between the couple escalated, and after driving Watson home, they continued to argue over who would drive home. Wood then used her car as a weapon, reversing towards Watson before knocking him onto her car’s bonnet. She then drove at him for a third time, dragging him under the vehicle for over 150 metres, causing his death. Jurors also heard that Wood was well above the legal driving limit when breathalysed.
In sentencing Wood, Judge Michael Leeming noted that her actions were not a result of provocation from Watson or fear of violence from him, as she had claimed, and that she had shown no true remorse for his murder. He stated that prison may be hard for Wood, but that she only had herself to blame for the situation she now finds herself in
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
