Meth user who ran over WA cop found guilty of manslaughter

Sydney Morning Herald

13-05-2025

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.
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.
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.