CHESHIRE, England – A woman was found guilty of murdering her fiancé after driving into him and dragging his body for more than 150 meters along the road in a shocking incident captured on video footage. Alice Wood, who denied the charges, was convicted in Chester after a three-week trial, with a judge remanding her in custody until sentencing on January 29.
The incident occurred after Wood and her fiancé, 24-year-old Ryan Watson, attended a birthday party together in Stoke-on-Trent. CCTV footage showed them leaving the party, with Wood later running over Watson after an argument, then sought help from a neighbor saying she had run over her boyfriend. The prosecutor in the case described it as a “simple case” where Wood used her car as a weapon during a heated argument.
Wood claimed that the incident was a “tragic accident” and that she did not realize Watson was trapped underneath the car when she drove for 158 meters before stopping. However, the jury found her guilty of murder after less than eight hours of deliberation.
The judge told Wood that the law only allows for a life imprisonment sentence, and that she “may never be released.” Wood’s defense argued that she had not intended to harm Watson and had been preparing for final exams in a theology, philosophy, and ethics degree at the time of the incident.
In a statement, Watson’s family expressed their grief over his untimely death and stated that “no sentence is going to be long enough” to make up for such a violent loss. A detective involved in the case described Wood’s actions as using her vehicle as a weapon while intoxicated, leading to the tragic loss of Watson’s life.
The incident has left a lasting impact on the family of Ryan Watson, who was a support worker for a brain injury charity. Wood’s conviction has brought a sense of justice to the family, who mourn the loss of a young man with a promising future ahead of him.