Watlington woods murder accused told driver he'd 'fallen from sky'

The 24-year-old is said to have run in front of the 4x4 near Watlington Park after killing his mother, Carole, in National Trust woodland nearby. O’Hara Wright denies murder.

On Tuesday, Oxford jurors heard from driver of the Ford, Louise Townsend, who was heading home from work when her car struck the man.

Nettlebed Henley, Christmas Common, near the Middle Lodge Picture: GOOGLE

She became aware of something in her field of vision as she passed the gates to Georgian mansion Watlington Park.

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“Next thing I knew he was on my car bonnet,” she told the jury. The front of her car and the Ford’s windscreen were damaged in the crash.

Ms Townsend stopped the car. She said: “He sat in the passenger seat and said ‘I fell from the sky’ or ‘I’ve fallen from the sky’. He said ‘do I [Ms Townsend] believe in God?’”

She had not replied as she was ‘too frightened’, she said.

The man asked her in a polite voice to drive on. In fear, she continued up the road, Nettlebed Henley, towards Christmas Common.

Ms Townsend said she’d flashed her headlights at an oncoming car in an attempt to signal danger. As they stopped, a tussle broke out over a handbag and business papers in the passenger footwell. He let go then ran from the car.

Cross-examined by O’Hara Wright’s barrister, Ms Townsend agreed the incident had been ‘bizarre’, ‘very frightening’ and happened ‘out of the blue’.

Fox and Hounds pub, Christmas Common Picture: GOOGLE

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