Court hears Constable Anthony Woods alleged killer may have 'unconsciously' pressed accelerator before being taseredDBy David WeberTopic:Crime32m ago32 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 8:01amReagan Chown is on trial in the WA Supreme Court charged with the manslaughter of Constable Anthony Woods. (Supplied: Anne Barnet)In short: The man accused of the manslaughter of WA police officer Anthony Woods has taken the stand in his defence.The court was told Mr Chown admit he may have "unconsciously" put his foot on the accelerator before he was tasered. A phone call Mr Chown made from jail to his father is also being scrutinised.abc.net.au/news/reagan-chown-trial-manslaughter-anthony-woods-/105268104Link copiedShareShare articleA man accused of killing a police officer by driving over him in a stolen car after a high-speed chase has admitted he may have "unconsciously" put his foot on the accelerator before being tasered.Constable Anthony Woods, 28, died three days after being dragged under the car after a traffic stop in the early hours of the morning in June 2023.The police officer had been chasing a stolen Holden Cruze through the streets of Perth and had approached the driver's door after stopping it in a riverside cul-de-sac in Ascot.The road in the Perth suburb of Ascot, where Constable Anthony Woods sustained critical injuries after being run over by a car. (ABC News: James Carmody)Reagan Chown, 25, was behind the wheel and upon taking the stand for the first time at his manslaughter trial, he told the jury he had no control of the car after he was tasered by Constable Woods.Constable Woods was between the car door and the body of the vehicle and was pulled under it when it went into reverse, mounted a kerb and hit a pole.Drugs clouded accused's judgementOn the stand, Mr Chown admitted to lying to police about his meth use, and whether the car was stolen."Narcotics and drug abuse clouded my judgement," he said.Distressing video played in court of scene after police officer run overPhoto shows An officer in his late twenties while dressed in an official uniform stands in front of a brick wallConfronting video from a body-worn police camera is shown in a WA court depicting the moments after a stolen car was reversed over an officer, killing him.He testified he didn't know why he tried to escape police when they attempted to pull him over.Mr Chown said when he was stopped in the cul-de-sac, he struggled to put the car in park, saying there may have been a phone in the way.Mr Chown said a "bright light" lit up the car, "like a torch", and a door opened and shut "in quick succession".He told the court he didn't hear Constable Woods say anything."Can't remember if there was a struggle or not," he said, before the taser was deployed.Loading...Mr Chown said it was "almost like your muscles were set on fire".Mr Chown said he didn't have control of his legs or arms and felt pain from his neck downwards.Foot may have 'accidentally' hit acceleratorUnder questioning from prosecutor Justin Whalley, Mr Chown said he did not remember putting the car in reverse, but agreed the car was already moving backwards before he was tasered.Prosecutor Justin Whalley heads towards court. (ABC News: David Weber )He said his foot may have accidentally gone onto the accelerator, and denied he was trying to get away.Mr Chown admitted it was possible he could have "unconsciously" put his foot on the accelerator before being tasered.He accepted he wasn't actually unconscious at the time but said he could not remember doing it.Constable Anthony Woods was just 28 when he was killed in the line of duty. (Supplied: WA Police)Mr Chown said he didn't see Constable Woods trapped between the car door and the body of the car, because his "eyes were shut".Jail phone call scrutinisedMr Whalley also asked him about a phone call to his father, recorded when he was in prison in June 2023.During the call, Reagan Chown said "the c**t pulled me over and f**king tasered me".Constable Anthony Woods died three days after he was run over by a car in the line of duty. (Supplied)Mr Chown's lawyer asked him why he used such language and he said: "jail's a vicious environment."Mr Chown was also heard on the call saying his "foot went straight onto accelerator and my left arm spazzed out".Closing submissions in the trial are expected to start on Monday.LoadingPosted 32m ago32 minutes agoFri 9 May 2025 at 8:01amShare optionsCopy linkFacebookX (formerly Twitter)Top StoriesNationals leader faces Canavan challenge as Taylor confirms he'll contest Liberal leadershipLIVEPhoto shows Matt Canavan, in side profile, grimaces slightly during a press conferenceAustralia's political conclave theatrics feel blokey, but the future is femaleAAnalysis by Annabel CrabbPhoto shows Sussan LeyErin Patterson was building Lego hours after serving deadly meal, court hearsTopic:CourtsPhoto shows A close up photo of Erin Patterson looking over her shoulder wearing glases.‘Like a rock’: Revered Arnhem Land elder dies after alleged attackTopic:Indigenous AustraliansPhoto shows An Aboriginal man wearing a black graphic tee, with gray hair, speaking at a podium in front of a Garma festival banner. 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