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Courier-Mail
4 days ago
- Courier-Mail
Reagan Chown: Man who mowed down, killed Perth cop Anthony Woods jailed for 13.5 years
Don't miss out on the headlines from WA News. Followed categories will be added to My News. The family of a Perth cop killed in the line of duty when he tried to stop a car thief, before being dragged under the vehicle, have revealed their heartbreak at his future being 'taken away'. Reagan Chown, 25, was sentenced in the WA Supreme Court on Thursday to 15.5 years' jail for the manslaughter of Constable Anthony Woods in June 2023. He will be eligible for parole after serving 13.5 years behind bars. Chown was behind the wheel of a stolen Holden Cruze when he reversed and dragged Constable Woods, 28, under the vehicle. Reagan Chown has been jailed for more than 15 years for the manslaughter of Perth cop Anthony Woods in 2023. Picture: 9News Chown had pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter but was found guilty by a jury earlier this year. The court was told Chown was on bail for possession of cocaine, meth and drug dealing when he killed Constable Woods. He was driving a stolen car with stolen plates that were detected by number plate recognition cameras shortly before Constable Woods was killed. Police pursued the stolen vehicle, which had reached speeds of up to 83kmh in a 40km zone, before it stopped in a cul-de-sac in the Perth suburb of Ascot. Constable Woods tried to arrest Chown and tasered him, but the 25-year-old put his car in reverse and hit the accelerator, dragging, trapping the officer under the car. Constable Woods died from his injuries in hospital. On Thursday, Constable Woods' mother Natalie read a victim impact statement to the court before Chown was sentenced. Ms Woods said her heart was ripped away on the day Anthony died and she felt like she had 'died'. 'He was doing his duty and he was protecting his community and his future was taken away,' she said. 'Each anniversary, birthday and any moment we shared with him is now painful for us.' Constable Woods (left, with his wife Emily) died after he was dragged under a stolen vehicle being driven by Chown. Picture: Supplied Justice Joseph McGrath said during sentencing that Chown deliberately put his car into reverse and moved it backwards by putting his foot on the accelerator. He said Chown was criminally negligent for the circumstances, rejecting his defence that being tasered made him not criminally responsible for Constable Woods' death. 'Police were still pursuing you to charge you with reckless driving, and you were driving a stolen vehicle,' Justice McGrath said. 'The police had every reason to form a belief that you intended to flee. 'You had reached the end of the road. 'That you are not criminally negligent is unacceptable.' Justice McGrath said he was satisfied Chown intended to flee from police and he ignored officers when he put his car into reverse and his foot on the accelerator. Constable Woods was attempting to stop Chown in the stolen car when he was killed in the line of duty. Picture: WA Police 'You decided to get away and tried to escape,' he said. 'The movement of the car was done by you. 'It would be fanciful to make a finding that Constable Woods somehow did wrong here, officers make split second decisions, (you) was speeding through Epsom Ave high on meth when officers intervened. 'This does not come close to some unauthorised discharge.' Chown argued he had no control over his actions when his car moved into reverse after being tasered, but Justice McGrath rejected his explanation saying he was not a reliable or credible witness. Justice McGrath described Reagan Chown's testament as 'fanciful.' Justice McGrath said CCTV footage and police body worn cameras showed a different picture and described Chown's testament as 'fanciful'. 'You maintained the action was involuntary and you pressed the accelerator when tasered,' he said. 'You said the car reversed when you were tasered, and it was an accident. 'I do not accept your alternative explanation and find you deliberately put the car into reverse and hit the accelerator. 'You did those acts because you were intent on fleeing from police. 'You killed a police officer acting in the course of his duty.' Police commissioner Col Blanch Commissioner Blanch said he would ask the government for tougher laws to deal with criminals who behave criminally, evade police and kill a police officer. Picture: NewsWire/ Emma Kirk Police commissioner Col Blanch said outside of court that Justice McGrath's words during sentencing were important and no sentence handed down by a court would ever be enough. 'Anthony Woods was killed serving his community by a drug dealer in a stolen car while on bail,' he said. 'While most of us were sleeping comfortable in our beds Anthony Woods never came home.' Commissioner Blanch said he would ask the government for tougher laws to deal with criminals who behave criminally, evade police and kill a police officer. 'I think murder should stand in these cases,' he said. Chown's defence lawyer told the court his client had become addicted to drugs working as a FIFO worker. He said it was a combination of being away from his family, who lived regionally, having too much time off work in-between his shifts and his drug addiction – for which Chown said he was 'disgusted'. Originally published as 'Future taken away': Family of slain cop Anthony Woods reveal heartbreak as man jailed for manslaughter
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Perth Now
Family's heartbreak after cop mowed down
The family of a Perth cop killed in the line of duty when he tried to stop a car thief, before being dragged under the vehicle, have revealed their heartbreak at his future being 'taken away'. Reagan Chown, 25, was sentenced in the WA Supreme Court on Thursday to 15.5 years' jail for the manslaughter of Constable Anthony Woods in June 2023. He will be eligible for parole after serving 13.5 years behind bars. Chown was behind the wheel of a stolen Holden Cruze when he reversed and dragged Constable Woods, 28, under the vehicle. Reagan Chown has been jailed for more than 15 years for the manslaughter of Perth cop Anthony Woods in 2023. 9News Credit: Channel 9 Chown had pleaded not guilty to a charge of manslaughter but was found guilty by a jury earlier this year. The court was told police had pursued the stolen vehicle, which had reached speeds of up to 83kmh in a 40km zone, before it stopped in a cul-de-sac in the Perth suburb of Ascot. Constable Woods tried to arrest Chown and tasered him, but the 25-year-old put his car in reverse and hit the accelerator, dragging, trapping the officer under the car. Constable Woods died from his injuries in hospital. On Thursday, Constable Woods' mother Natalie read a victim impact statement to the court before Chown was sentenced. Ms Woods said her heart was ripped away on the day Anthony died and she felt like she had 'died'.'He was doing his duty and he was protecting his community and his future was taken away,' she said. 'Each anniversary, birthday and any moment we shared with him is now painful for us.' Constable Woods (left, with his wife Emily) died after he was dragged under a stolen vehicle being driven by Chown. Supplied Credit: Supplied Justice Joseph McGrath said during sentencing that Chown deliberately put his car into reverse and moved it backwards by putting his foot on the accelerator. He said Chown was criminally negligent for the circumstances, rejecting his defence that being tasered made him not criminally responsible for Constable Woods' death. 'Police were still pursuing you to charge you with reckless driving, and you were driving a stolen vehicle,' Justice McGrath said. 'The police had every reason to form a belief that you intended to flee. 'You had reached the end of the road. 'That you are not criminally negligent is unacceptable.' Justice McGrath said Woods was trapped under the car when Chown reversed at speed, losing control of the vehicle. Constable Woods was attempting to stop Chown in the stolen car when he was killed in the line of duty. WA Police Credit: Supplied 'I am satisfied you intended to flee from police and that you ignored the officers command and put the car into reverse and put your foot on the accelerator,' he said. 'You decided to get away and tried to escape. 'The movement of the car was done by you.' 'It would be fanciful to make a finding that Constable Woods somehow did wrong here, officers make split second decisions, (you) was speeding through Epsom Ave high on meth when officers intervened. 'This does not come close to some unauthorised discharge.' Chown's defence lawyer told the court his client had become addicted to drugs working as a FIFO worker. He said it was a combination of being away from his family, who lived regionally, having too much time off work in-between his shifts and his drug addiction – for which Chown said he was 'disgusted'. Justice McGrath accepted that Chown did not intend to kill the officer.
7NEWS
19-06-2025
- 7NEWS
Carlie Richards found mentally incompetent over fatal Adelaide crash that killed Erica Hoy
A drug-addicted mother of four will not be held criminally responsible for killing an aspiring actress in a high-speed hit-and-run crash, after a judge found she was mentally incompetent at the time. Erica Hoy, 26, had been sitting in the backseat of a Toyota being driven down the Port River Expressway in Gillman, in Adelaide's northwest, by her twin sister when the vehicle was struck from behind by Carlie Richards' Holden Cruze and pushed into the path of an oncoming truck. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Carlie Richards will not be held criminally responsible for deadly crash. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Richards, 41, was high on meth and travelling almost 100km/h over the 60km/h speed limit at the point of impact, the court was told. However, she will not be held criminally responsible for Hoy's death in November 2022, after the judge found she was mentally incompetent at the time of the collision — suffering from a schizophrenic disorder — and did not understand that what she was doing was wrong. Appearing via video link from the Adelaide Women's Prison, Richards cried as the verdict was handed down. Erica Hoy's twin sister, Lisa, and boyfriend, Mike Reader, were seriously injured in the crash. Reader told 7NEWS: 'To lose someone they loved so dearly and not see a direct consequence for it ... it's difficult to process.' 'My heart goes out to all of (Hoy's) family. I'll honour her life. She will always have a place in my heart and be my inspiration.' Richards was uninjured and fled the crash scene. She later pleaded guilty to leaving the scene of an accident after causing death and harm. The case will return to court in July for a pre-sentence hearing.
9 News
26-04-2025
- 9 News
Driver accused of hit-run crash that killed 84-year-old in Wembley released on bail
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here The driver allegedly behind a crash that killed an elderly man in Perth is out on bail tonight, insisting he wasn't aware he'd collided with the victim. The 84-year-old was just metres from his home in Wembley when he was struck and left lying in the middle of the road. Michael Hadwiger's blue Holden Cruze was found by police at a house in Craigie yesterday afternoon. The 84-year-old was just metres from his home when he was struck. (9News) Shortly after, officers smashed their way into the 44-year-old's Glendalough flat to arrest him. Police had been searching for him and his car after 84-year-old Francis Vella was hit at a pedestrian crossing on Herdsman Parade on Thursday night. The grandfather, who was just metres from his Wembley home, was remembered fondly by his neighbours. "He was just really sweet and I don't know, he was a bit lonely, because he had a sister who used to live with him," one neighbour told 9News. The accused hit-run driver claims he didn't know he'd collided with anyone. The grandfather was remembered fondly by his neighbours. (9News) The security guard's lawyer told the court he believed someone had thrown something at his car and, perceiving danger, he kept going. In opposing bail, the police prosecutors said investigators believed the accused had been drinking at a nearby tavern immediately before the crash, saying it was highly likely he was under the influence to such an extent that he was incapable of being in control of the vehicle. Hadwiger was released on $10,000 bail. He'll have to report daily to police, can't leave the state and will front court again in three weeks. Western Australia Australia courts crime national Perth CONTACT US
