CHESTER, England – A 23-year-old woman from Cheshire has been found guilty of murdering her fiance by using her car as a weapon when they argued after a party. Alice Wood, 23, was convicted of running over her partner Ryan Watson, 24, near their home in Rode Heath on May 6, 2022.
According to trial proceedings, the couple had attended a party at Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, where an argument ensued on their way back. Wood claimed it was a tragic accident, but the jury unanimously found her guilty of murder after less than eight hours of deliberation. Judge Michael Leeming remanded Wood in custody, stating that she might never be released and that the only allowable sentence is life imprisonment.
The court also heard testimony about the events leading up to the tragic incident. Wood described an argument that escalated when they returned home, leading to Mr. Watson grabbing her by her hair extensions. CCTV footage showed Wood reversing her vehicle, hitting Watson’s car, a bin, and a bollard before swerving off the road towards him. Wood claimed she had intended to scare him but was shocked when she saw him on the bonnet of the car, then proceeded to hit him a second time, knocking him underneath the car.
After the verdict, Detective Inspector Nigel Parr stated that Wood used her vehicle as a deliberate weapon while under the influence of alcohol, showing no remorse or accountability for her actions. David Jones, senior crown prosecutor at CPS Mersey-Cheshire, described it as a tragic loss of life, emphasizing that Wood’s jealousy led her to brutally kill her partner.
The family of the victim expressed their anguish, stating that no sentence would be long enough for the loss they have suffered. Wood’s conviction for the murder of Ryan Watson has brought a tragic end to a relationship that had once held hope for the future.