Meth user who ran over cop found guilty of manslaughter
Aaron Bunch |
A drug-affected car thief who ran over and killed a young “hero” policeman after the officer tasered him has been found guilty of manslaughter.
Reagan Ainslie Chown pleaded not guilty in the West Australian Supreme Court to manslaughter over the late-night June 8, 2023 incident that led to Constable Anthony Woods’ death.
The 25-year-old said he was not responsible for the tragedy because the officer shot him with a Taser and it caused him to lose control of a stolen car.
A jury on Tuesday took less than three hours to find Chown guilty of manslaughter.
Const Woods’ loved ones and colleagues, including WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch, wept with relief and hugged after the guilty verdict was delivered.
The court heard Chown and two others had fled from police in a stolen Holden Cruz before stopping in a cul-de-sac.
Const Woods, 28, opened the Holden driver’s door and attempted to detain Chown, who was behind the steering wheel.
The officer fired his Taser into the moving car before “falling and being dragged under the accused’s vehicle to his ultimate death”.
CCTV footage played for the jury showed the Holden reversing at speed, mounting a kerb and stopping after it hit a bollard.
During the video, Const Woods can be heard twice saying “stay where you are” and “Taser” as the vehicle moved backwards.
A loud crack can also be heard.
Prosecutor Justin Whalley explained during his opening submissions it was the sound of Const Woods’ Taser firing, before he disappears below the moving car.
“Const Woods became trapped under the accused’s car,” Mr Whalley said.
“He was taken to hospital but his injuries were not survivable.”
The court heard his death several days later was due to complications of cardiac arrest caused by mechanical compression of the chest and abdomen.
Mr Whalley said Chown was attempting to flee before Const Woods tasered him.
He said Chown was under the influence of methamphetamine and in possession of the drug when the incident happened.
Const Woods, who had just passed his probation, was farewelled before about 2000 police officers, family, friends and dignitaries at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
Outside court, Const Woods’ mother, Natalie Woods, said her family was overwhelmed and satisfied with the verdict.
“Now we can let him rest and start just living his memory the best way we can,” she said.
Mr Blanch said Const Woods was a hero.
“He will always be in our memories,” he said.
“The blue family is hurting … and we’ve been hurting since this happened, but today is a small piece of justice that will live in our hearts.”
Asked about Chown’s defence stating Const Woods had placed himself in a dangerous position, Mr Blanch said the comments were “offensive and disgusting”.
“I reject any notion that Anthony should not have done what he did … he did his job (and) he never got to go home from his shift that night,” he said.
Chown was originally charged with murder but it was downgraded to manslaughter the week before his trial.
He will be sentenced on July 3.
Chown previously pleaded guilty to stealing the car and reckless driving to escape police.
AAP
