04 December 2023 , 15:00
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A woman has denied "losing her temper" and killing her boyfriend by running him over with her car after an argument at a party, a court has heard.
Alice Wood, 23, is accused of murdering Ryan Watson, 24, by dragging him along a 160m stretch underneath her car while twice the legal drink drive limit. Jurors were told the pair had an argument after attending a birthday party in Hamley, Stoke in May last year.
Witnesses at the party described tension between the pair as gregarious and outgoing Ryan started "working the room", leaving his girlfriend "sat alone at the table" a number of times. Over the course of the night partygoers described watching the couple argue, including a spat over "who was going to drive home", the court heard.
Alice Wood denies murdering her boyfriend after the party (Facebook)
Wood began 'clutching her face' when Ryan was pronounced dead, the court heard (Facebook)Prosecuting, Mr Andrew Ford KC said a woman at the party, Tiffany Ferriday, claimed she had been laughing and joking with Ryan but could feel Wood "glaring at her". After Wood drove her boyfriend home in his white Fiat Punto, witnesses described seeing her swap into the driver's seat of her own car, a black Ford Fiesta.
Witnesses claim Wood was appearing to play "a game of chicken" with her car by driving towards Ryan who was standing on the pavement. The court heard that staff in a nearby Chinese takeaway described hearing a "life threatening scream" as Wood did a "sweeping movement" with her car before Ryan disappeared underneath.
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Prosecuting Mr Ford KC said: "We say that the moment she drove at him, killing him, she lost her temper - that she had fallen into a mood and had an argument with him. At one moment in particular she lost her cool. Upon impact Ryan Watson went under the car's front bumper. She was driving, he remained trapped under the chassis and she dragged him 160m almost down the road."
Jurors were told that Ryan had died from crush asphyxiation injuries and was found in a pool of blood with his leg sticking out from under the car. The court heard that Wood had knocked on a nearby house and told the occupant "please phone an ambulance, I think I've just run over my boyfriend". Paramedics arrived at the scene at around 11.40pm and pronounced Ryan dead. When Wood heard this she began "rocking and clutching her face", jurors were told. She was apprehended by police a short time later and arrested on suspicion of murder.
Mr Ford KC said while in police custody officers explained what was going to happen and Wood replied "it's fine I deserve it" before telling them "you should just shoot me in the head". He said: "We say these comments are consistent with feeling guilty about what she had done and not consistent with this being a terrible accident."
Jurors were told that a breathalyser test showed Wood to have consumed 61mcg of alcohol, almost twice the legal limit. Mr Ford told the court Wood claimed she had drunk two glasses of wine, two rums and a glass of Champagne when questioned by police.
The court heard that Ryan was a support worker for a charity called Headway which supports people with brain injuries in North Staffordshire. The party had been for one of Ryan's service users.
The court heard the pair had first moved in together in Ryan's flat during the Covid lockdown in 2020, while Wood was still a student at Manchester University. They eventually moved into their own home together in Rode Heath, Cheshire the following year.
Wood denies murder. The trial continues at Chester Crown Court.