Reagan Ainslie Chown, a 25-year-old man, is currently on trial in the West Australian Supreme Court, facing manslaughter charges related to the death of Constable Anthony Woods. Chown has pleaded not guilty to the charges stemming from an incident on June 8, 2023, where Woods was killed after allegedly being struck by Chown’s stolen vehicle while attempting to detain him.
During the proceedings, Prosecutor Justin Whalley recounted how Chown and two accomplices were fleeing police in a stolen Holden Cruz. After turning into a cul-de-sac, the vehicle stopped, and Constable Woods approached to arrest Chown. In a rapid sequence of events, Chown allegedly attempted to drive away, leading Woods to use his Taser. Unfortunately, this action resulted in Woods falling and being trapped beneath the vehicle, subsequently leading to his death from injuries sustained in the incident.
Whalley highlighted that Woods delivered commands to Chown, stating “stay where you are,” before the Taser was deployed. The device discharged two barbs that struck Chown, reportedly impairing his ability to control the vehicle. CCTV footage capturing the incident showed the Holden reversing at speed, mounting a kerb, and colliding with a bollard before halting. A loud crack—identified as the Taser firing—was also audible on the recording.
Chown’s barrister, Paul Bevilacqua, admitted to the disgraceful nature of Chown’s actions but argued that the Taser had compromised his client’s ability to control the vehicle, thus relieving him of responsibility for Woods’ death. He pointed out that after the Taser was fired, the car became uncontrollable.
Witness testimony from Woods’ partner, then-Sergeant Michael Fisher, described the tragic moment Woods became entangled and was subsequently dragged under the front wheels of Chown’s vehicle. Footage from Fisher’s body-worn camera captured the chaos following the incident, including his attempts to assess Woods’ condition and the efforts by officers to lift the vehicle off him.
The jury was informed that Woods died from complications arising from cardiac arrest due to mechanical compression. Additionally, Chown was noted to have been under the influence of methamphetamine at the time, and he reportedly claimed during an interview that had the Taser not been deployed, the tragic events would not have unfolded.
Despite acknowledging a lack of empathy, Chown expressed his belief that he did not intentionally accelerate the vehicle during the confrontation. The court is tasked with determining the extent of Chown’s responsibility for the death of Constable Woods amidst conflicting narratives about the events of that night.