Reagan Chown: ‘No compromise’ in prosecution of man accused of murdering WA Police officer Anthony Woods

Prospects of a plea deal averting the trial of a man accused of mowing down a young WA police officer have evaporated, with prosecutors saying there will be no compromise. Reagan Ainslie Chown pleaded guilty in February last year to driving recklessly to escape police during a pursuit in the stolen Holden Cruze that fatally struck Constable Anthony Woods in Ascot on June 8, 2023. However, the 24-year-old pleaded not guilty to murder. Chown appeared via videolink from Albany Prison for a status conference in the Supreme Court of WA on Thursday, when Justice Joseph McGrath asked prosecutor Justin Whalley if there was “any prospect of compromise” ahead of his two-week trial starting in April. Mr Whalley said the State had made its position clear. “We’re not actively involved in negotiations,” he said. Justice McGrath said that if the State was arguing Chown used a motor vehicle as a weapon, an intention to cause a life-threatening injury needed to be proven. He “had the motivation to do that” and “formed intent”, Mr Whalley said. Defence counsel Paul Bevilacqua said he was ready for trial, with all required materials provided by the State. Const. Woods suffered catastrophic injuries after he and his senior colleague pulled over the Holden, which had stolen number plates. As the officers tried to detain the vehicle’s three occupants, Const. Woods was hit by the car as it reversed and was dragged underneath. His colleague, who ran door-to-door asking residents for a carjack, then lifted the car off Const. Woods and attempted CPR at the scene. The 28-year-old was rushed to hospital in a critical condition, where he died three days later. He had only just passed his probation.