Woman sobbed 'shoot me in the head' after 'killing boyfriend with car' in fight

08 December 2023 , 11:09

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Alice Wood is accused of murder (Image: Facebook)

A woman accused of murdering her boyfriend told police "you should just shoot me in the head" as she was arrested, a court has heard.

Alice Wood ran over her partner Ryan Watson near their home in Rode Heath, Cheshire, after driving them home from a party on May 6 last year, a trial at Chester Crown Court has heard. PC Alistair Robinson told the court he was called at 11.40pm and saw 23-year-old Wood's Ford Fiesta with the body of a man underneath it.

He said he was informed a female connected to the incident was at a nearby address and established that she was to be arrested on suspicion of murder. He said Wood was sitting on a sofa in the living room of the house and "sobbing". He added: "I could smell alcohol. She appeared drunk."

The officer said she was arrested on suspicion of murder by his colleague, then breathalysed and arrested on suspicion of drink driving. Mr Robinson, 24, said as they travelled to custody in a police van his colleague explained what would happen when they got to the police station and Wood replied: "That's fine, I deserve it."

Ryan Watson was run over (PA)

Alice Wood is on trial (Facebook)

His colleague then told her everyone would look after her and she replied "I don't deserve it", Mr Robinson said. He said Wood was compliant and when they got to the police station a further breathalyser test was carried out. He told the court: "On a couple of occasions she said words to the effect of 'you should just shoot me in the head' whilst she was crying."

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The jury was shown bodyworn camera footage of Wood being arrested and in the car on the way to the police station, when she could be heard telling officers Mr Watson's name, date of birth, address and confirming he was her fiance. Forensic pathologist Dr Matthew Lyall told the court he believed Mr Watson's cause of death was traumatic asphyxia and his injuries were consistent with being dragged along the road underneath the vehicle. Wood cried in the dock during the pathology evidence.

The prosecution allege Wood "lost her temper" and killed Mr Watson, hitting him with her Ford Fiesta and driving 158 metres with him underneath the car. It previously heard the pair had been at a 60th birthday party for a service user of the Headway brain injury charity, which Mr Watson was a support worker for.

Witness Tiffany Ferriday said she had been at the party with her mother, who also used the charity, and sat at a table with Mr Watson and Wood. She described Mr Watson, who she had met a couple of times before, as "very happy", "jolly" and "bubbly". She said: "Ryan was the light of the table. He was dancing with us all, he was involving everyone. Alice didn't really seem to get involved."

Miss Ferriday confirmed to the court that she and Mr Watson had "clicked" and agreed Wood was "pretty much left out" of conversation. She said that at one point, Wood told Mr Watson: "Watch what you're drinking." Miss Ferriday said she felt like she was "getting stared at" by Wood for much of the night. In cross-examination, Miss Ferriday agreed she thought Wood was staring at her because of the way she and Mr Watson behaved with each other.

The court also heard Miss Ferriday left the party before Mr Watson and Wood but shortly after 11pm received three missed calls from an Instagram account called Ry, which she later learned was Mr Watson's account. The witness, who broke down in tears at points during her evidence, said she tried to ring back but that there was no answer and she sent a message saying "who's this?"

In a statement which was read to the court, the couple's neighbour Elaine Abbott said that some time after 11pm she heard the footsteps of two people she believed to be Mr Watson and Wood returning to their home on Oak Street. She said: "I heard Ryan shout something like 'oh God, not this again'. I then heard footsteps walking away." Rebecca Callister, who lives on Sandbach Road, told the court she was woken by the sound of metal crunching at about 11.30pm and when she looked out of the window, saw a man arguing with someone inside a car. She said she saw the car moving forwards towards the man. She added: "It looked like it was designed to intimidate and scare them a little bit."

Wood denies murder. The trial was adjourned until next Thursday.

Kelly-Ann Mills