AN evening out turned into a horrific nightmare for the family of Ryan Watson after the young man was killed by his partner.
The charity worker, who was just 24 when he died, was run over by his fiancée Alice Wood after a party in May 2022.
Alice Wood has been found guilty at Chester Crown Court of the murder of her partner Ryan WatsonCheshire Police/PA Wire
Who is Alice Wood?
Alice Wood is a young woman who was charged with murdering her fiancé in January 2024.
Wood was a Manchester University student when she killed Ryan Watson in May 2022.
Before Watson’s death, the couple lived together in Cheshire and are reported to have shared pet dogs.
Ryan worked as a support worker for the Headway brain injury charity.
Alice, meanwhile, was reportedly poised to pursue a career as a vet before being arrested for Ryan’s death.
What happened to Ryan Watson?
Watson was killed on May 6, 2022, after attending a party with his partner Wood.
Jurors at Wood’s trial heard how the pair spent the evening at an event in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, for a user of the brain injury charity that Watson worked for.
Watson was seen “having a good time, being a gregarious and outgoing party guest, having fun and dancing” while Wood was described by witnesses as being a “bit cold” as if she wasn’t “best pleased”.
Another guest claims to have “clicked” with Watson but felt Wood “glaring” at her.
Later that night, Wood drove her and Watson away from the party, taking them home in her partner’s Fiat vehicle.
The court heard that, once parked near the A533 Sandbach Road, Wood got into her own Ford Fiesta and reversed towards Watson as he walked away, but missed.
She then hit him again and began driving backwards and forwards, this time pulling Watson under the front bumper of her vehicle.
Watson remained trapped under the car and was dragged for almost 160 metres, the court heard.
Wood then got out the car and knocked on a nearby door, telling the homeowner: “Please phone an ambulance.
“I think I’ve ran over my boyfriend.”
When police arrested her, Wood told an officer: “Just shoot me in the head”, adding: “It’s fine, I deserve it”.
Wood was found to have 61 micrograms of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath, almost double the legal limit of 35.
She has claimed to have consumed two glasses of white wine, two rums and a glass of champagne on the evening of Watson’s death.
Watsons family paid tribute to him after the shocking killing.
They said: “Ryan was the light of all our lives and we will forever miss him and love him more than words can say.
“He was an extremely kind and caring individual who loved his family and friends.
“All his best friends and everyone he met will have wonderful lasting memories of laughter and great times.
“Ryan was the life and soul of everything he did.
“He was passionate about his job which allowed him to help and care for others. Ryan will forever be in our hearts and never be forgotten”.
Where is Alice Wood now?
On January 2, 2024, Wood was convicted of murder following a trial at Chester Crown Court.
She was remanded into custody to be sentenced at a later date.
Andrew Ford, KC, prosecuting, said: “Whilst deeply serious and tragic, we say this is a simple case.
“She lost her temper, had an argument with her boyfriend when they were in drunk, in a motorcar.
“Things became fraught, he got out, kicked a door, and she lost her cool and used the car as a weapon”.
David Jones, Senior Crown Prosecutor in CPS Mersey-Cheshire, said: “This was a tragic loss of life of a young man with his whole life ahead of him.
“Under the influence of alcohol, it was clear that Alice Wood’s jealousy was ammunition enough for her to brutally kill her partner.
“Though it will never make up for their devastating loss, I hope today’s conviction brings Ryan’s family some solace, knowing his murderer has been brought to justice”.
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