A CIVIL servant from Worthing has been charged with attempted murder in relation to a "carefully planned and executed" attempt to kill his estranged wife.
Martin Hewlett, 44, of Guildford Road, appeared at Worthing Magistrates' Court today (Thursday, July 24).
The job centre worker spoke only to confirm his name and address and he did not enter a plea.
The charge relates to an incident on February 29, when his wife Anne Hewlett was cycling down Canterbury Road, Worthing, at around 10.45pm.
The court heard she was knocked off her bike by a Ford Transit van, which then turned around and deliberately ran over her, dragging her down the road for around 20ft.
Prosecutor Roderick James said Mrs Hewlett suffered multiple fractures, a broken pelvis, a broken back, a crushed chest, severe internal bleeding and bad grazing to her head.
He said: "She was lucky not to have been killed.
"This was, in fact, a carefully planned and executed attempt to murder Mrs Hewlett. This was, but for the grace of God, an unsuccessful attempt to murder her."
The court heard Mrs Hewlett has been left unable to walk following the attack, and she is now living in Denmark with family.
Hewlett was refused bail by magistrates, who remanded him in custody to appear at Lewes Crown Court on Friday, August 1.
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