Trial begins into death of Indigenous teenager

A Sydney court has been told a police officer who has been charged with dangerous driving which led to the death of an Indigenous teenager in 2022, “established a roadblock” in the path of a trail bike without authority.

Benedict Bryant, 47, pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death over the crash in inner Sydney in February 2022, which killed Jai Wright.

Judge Jane Culver, who is presiding without a jury at the NSW District Court, heard police had received a report of an alleged theft of a trail bike.

Trail bike ‘theft’

Crown Prosecutor Philip Strickland SC told the court two police officers saw the trail bike ridden by Jai, and one of two stolen vehicles, and followed them in an unmarked police car.

After police had given instructions not to pursue the bike, another unmarked car sent to assist, driven by Sergeant Bryant, confirmed it would go to the scene.

The court was shown CCTV of an intersection in the suburb of Eveleigh where the bike was ridden through a red traffic light and hit an obstruction.

Vehicle used a “roadblock”

The video then showed Jai was thrown from the bike and hit Sgt. Bryant’s vehicle.

The prosecution has alleged Sgt Bryant used his vehicle as a roadblock “a form of barrier” and that he did so without rapper authorisation.

Sgt Bryant’s lawyer Brent Haverfield claimed it was another police vehicle that had created the roadblock and said evidence from a witness would show Jai manoevering away from that car.

The trial continues.