Girlfriend Convicted Of Murder Sentenced To A Minimum Of 18 Years In Prison

A theology student, Alice Wood, has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of her boyfriend, Ryan Watson. The incident occurred when Wood, 24, used her Ford Fiesta as a weapon, running over and killing Watson, 24, after accusing him of flirting with another woman. Watson, a support worker at the brain injury charity Headway, was dragged over 500 feet underneath the car and succumbed to his injuries.

 

Despite Wood's claims of the incident being an accident, a three-week trial at Chester Crown Court resulted in a guilty verdict for murder. Judge Michael Leeming, in handing down a life sentence, specified that Wood would have to serve a minimum of 18 years before being eligible for parole. Addressing Wood, who was in her final year of a philosophy, ethics, and theology degree at Manchester University, Judge Leeming stated, "Prison may be hard for you, Alice Wood, but you only have yourself to blame for the situation you now find yourself in."

 

During the trial, party guest Tiffany Ferriday testified that she and Mr. Watson had connected, leaving Wood feeling excluded from the conversation. Wood, who had been planning to pursue a postgraduate degree at Cambridge University, claimed that the argument with Watson escalated when she drove him home from the party in his car, despite being over the drink-drive limit. According to Wood, Watson accused her of flirting with other men, leading to a confrontation at their shared residence on Oak Street.

 

Wood described the events that unfolded, stating that she went out to her car to leave, but Watson followed her. Witness Mr. Ford testified that Wood "lost her temper" and "used the car as a weapon," resulting in Watson being trapped underneath the vehicle for 158 meters before Wood came to a stop.

 

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