A businesswoman has been found guilty of murder after she deliberately used her luxury car as a weapon to hunt down and kill an e-bike rider during a violent personal feud in Bournemouth.
Two Deliberate and 'Grim' Collisions
Zoe Treadwell, 36, was convicted by a jury at Winchester Crown Court of the murder of 28-year-old Joey Johnstone on 9 April. The court heard she pursued him in her Range Rover Evoque at speeds of up to 75mph before ramming him off his bike.
In a second attack weeks later, on 1 May, Treadwell orchestrated another collision. Her associate, 25-year-old Jonjay Harrison, used a Mercedes to deliberately ram her ex-boyfriend, Josh Lovell, who was riding an electric motorcycle with passenger Free Jenkins, 30.
Treadwell was also convicted of the attempted murder of Mr Lovell and causing grievous bodily harm with intent to Mr Jenkins. Harrison was found guilty of the same charges relating to the May incident.
A Feud Fueled by Extreme Aggression
Prosecutor Sarah Jones told the court the attacks were the direct result of a long-running grudge that erupted after Treadwell's relationship with Josh Lovell ended. "Both collisions were engineered as a consequence of a long-running grudge or feud," she said.
"They have sought to obliterate their enemies and the weapons with which they chose to do that were their cars. These collisions were not accidents," Ms Jones stated. She described how the victims were "targeted, located, hunted and then mown down."
During the April incident, Treadwell was seen driving from her home with another individual, Taylor Warwick, 18, who was later acquitted of all charges. The pursuit of Mr Johnstone and another man, Danny Singleton, reached average speeds between 66mph and 75mph. A post-mortem revealed Mr Johnstone died from a traumatic head injury with multiple skull fractures.
Life-Changing Injuries and Police Response
The consequences of the attacks were severe. Joey Johnstone lost his life. In the May attack, Josh Lovell suffered multiple rib fractures, a spine fracture, and thigh injuries. Free Jenkins's injuries were so catastrophic he required the amputation of his left leg above the knee; he recalled hearing his leg snap on impact with a lamppost.
Detective Inspector Mark Jenkins of Dorset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team said: "The sad death of Joey Johnstone came as a result of a deliberate, targeted and senseless attack... This extreme aggression resulted in tragic death... and then continued the following month."
He praised the investigation team and extended condolences to Mr Johnstone's partner, three young children, and wider family. Chief Inspector Barry Gosling assured Bournemouth residents that police would continue patrols and efforts to tackle violent crime.
Treadwell and Harrison will be sentenced at Winchester Crown Court at a later date.
