A philosophy student faces life behind bars after using her car as a weapon to murder her fiance after a row at a party.
CCTV showed Alice Wood, 23, drove at charity worker Ryan Watson, 24, three times before he was dragged for 518ft, after he had “clicked” with a woman at a party.
Manchester University graduate Wood, who had won a postgraduate place at Cambridge, denied murder claiming her boyfriend’s death at around 11.30pm on May 6, 2022 near their Cheshire home was a “tragic accident”.
She told Chester Crown Court she did not realise he was trapped under her car but showed no emotion yesterday as the jury convicted her of murder.
Judge Michael Leeming remanded her in custody adding: “There is only one sentence the law allows – life imprisonment. You may never be released.”
Mr Watson’s family said they had “finally got justice” for their son.
They added: “Ryan’s death has left our family heartbroken. He was taken from us far too soon. He had just started his career working for the charity Headway and helping other people, which is what he loved to do.
“Ryan had such a big personality. He was a bubbly, fun-loving, caring person with a heart of gold who would do anything for anyone.”
The three-week trial heard the couple rowed after returning home from a birthday party in Hanley, Stoke, for a user of the Headway brain injury charity where Mr Watson was a support worker. He had formed a rapport with a female guest. The couple returned home where, although over the drink-drive limit, Wood got in her car.
She then played what witnesses described as a “game of chicken” with Mr Watson by driving the car at him.
CCTV footage showed Wood’s Fiesta hitting Mr Watson, sending him flying on to the bonnet before he got up. Seconds later was struck a second time, causing him to fall under.
Mr Watson was heard screaming when trapped as Wood drove 518ft before stopping.
She then knocked on a neighbour’s door asking: “Please telephone an ambulance, I think I have run over my boyfriend.”
Upon arrest a sobbing Wood, of Rode Heath, told officers: “It’s fine, I deserve it”. She will be sentenced on January 29.
Det Insp Nigel Parr said: “She knew what she had done but since then has refused to take accountability for her actions.”
Mr Watson’s family said: “Alice is in prison where she belongs.
“But no sentence is going to be long enough for what she has taken from us and Ryan.”
