Shocking CCTV footage has shown the moments before student Alice Wood ploughs into her boyfriend in her car, killing him after he was dragged for 21 seconds.
The 23-year-old was today sentenced to serve a minimum term of 18 years imprisonment at Chester Crown Court after she was convicted of the murder of Ryan Watson, 24.
Wood initially claimed Mr Wood had died in a “tragic accident” – but the harrowing film exposed her lies.
The spliced clips show the pair at a party in Hanley in Stoke-on-Trent before getting into a white car, which Wood opted to drive despite being over the drink driving limit.
CCTV footage in an underground car park shows Mr Watson outside the vehicle remonstrating with her.
Moments later, she is seen reverseing her Fiesta aggressively in Mr Watson’s direction and deliberately drove at him.
The point of impact is not shown in the clip, but Mr Watson was thrown on to the bonnet of the vehicle as the back of his head hit the windscreen before he slid off and landed on his feet.
The fatal impact occurred when she drove at him again as he fell under the chassis of her can, and was dragged along the ground, Chester Crown Court heard.
Wood is also shown being arrested by police as she sobs uncontrollably.
Prosecuting, Andrew Ford KC, prosecuting, said Mr Watson was seen on CCTV footage “having a good time, being a gregarious and outgoing party guest” while Wood was described by one woman attending as “a bit cold”.
Fellow guest Tiffany Ferriday told the court she and Mr Watson had “clicked” with Wood “pretty much left out” of conversation.
However, Wood told the court that when she drove Mr Watson home from the party in his car, he “flipped” and accused her of flirting with other men.
The student described an argument which continued when they returned to the house they owned in Oak Street.
She told the court she went out to her car to leave but Mr Watson followed at which point the tragedy occurred.
Passing sentence, Judge Michael Leeming told the defendant: “Prison may be hard for you Alice Wood but you only have yourself to blame for the situation you now find yourself in.
“Ryan Watson was vulnerable. He was a pedestrian, he was holding his mobile phone, he was standing on the pavement, he had been drinking.
“There was nothing he could do to avoid the fatal act.
“To my mind you have shown no true remorse for Ryan’s murder.”
