WARNING: This story contains the name and image of a deceased Indigenous person
The heartbroken family of an Aboriginal teenager killed during a dramatic chase with a police officer say they hope their son’s story creates change within Australia.
Benedict Bryant, 47, was behind the wheel of an unmarked police car when 16-year-old Jai Kalani Wright was thrown off an allegedly stolen trail bike and hit the vehicle in Alexandria, in Sydney’s inner city, on February, 19, 2022.
The teen suffered critical head injuries and died at Prince Alfred hospital the following day.
Sergeant Bryant was on Friday found guilty of dangerous driving occasioning death.
He attended the Darlinghurst District Court on Friday as a verdict was delivered in his judge-alone trial before Judge Jane Culver.
The charge carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.
Judge Culver said on Friday the Crown had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Byrant drove in a dangerous manner.
She said, during her tense judgment, the accused effectively “established a roadblock” and used his car as a barrier or obstruction without reasonable grounds.
Judge Culver said there was no evidence to suggest the sergeant intended to hurt the teen in any way.
However, she instead found a person of his experience should have known creating the obstacle would pose a real risk of a collision with the bike.
Heartbroken family’s wish
Dozens of Jai’s family attended court on Friday, sporting custom-made T-shirts with Jai’s face on them, and cried out as the verdict was read.
“Justice for Jai” was chanted by the family as Bryant exited Darlinghurst Courthouse on bail.
A smoking ceremony also ensued, before the family addressed the awaiting media.
Jai’s father, Lachlan Wright, spoke on behalf of their family and said it was a “good outcome”, and that the family have been waiting years for answers.
“We knew from the day that Jai had the accident that this should be the outcome,” he said.
“From that first day we were told by a senior police officer that a car pulled in front of Jai and caused the collision.
“After that we had to go through police investigating police, and this not being pursued by the DPP … we had to go to a coronial inquest only for it to be abandoned on the first couple of days because of the evidence that was clearly there.”
Lachlan said while it still won’t bring Jai back, their family truly wish for change in Australia.
“If things can change in the future in regards to relationships between Aboriginal people in this country and the police force maybe this won’t happen again,” he said.
Lachlan added that Jai was the “glue” that held their family together, and was a “funny character” who could talk to anyone and make anyone laugh.
Meanwhile, Bryant’s lawyer Paul McGirr told reporters outside court that they intended to appeal the decision.
“A number of families we accept, including the police’s family and the young person’s family, are hurting from an incident that could’ve been avoided if everyone was at home in bed like they should be. And it’s a bigger problem in the community,” he said.
The Crown’s case was that Bryant’s driving created a “roadblock” by placing his vehicle in the trail bike’s path, and he did so “without authorisation or reasonable grounds”, and a greater degree of care was required.
Dozens of Jai’s family have painstakingly sat in court throughout the duration of the trial.
The court was told that on the morning of the crash, police were investigating Jai and two other teenagers after they had allegedly stolen two luxury vehicles as well as a trail bike.
Harrowing CCTV footage was played in court that showed Jai riding the trail bike about 68km/h in a 40km/h zone on Henderson Rd in Eveleigh.
Moments before, Bryant turned right onto the intersection of Henderson Rd and Davy Rd and was coming to a stop as he saw the bike approaching in a bike lane.
He did not activate his lights or sirens as he turned into the intersection.
The moment of impact was then shown in CCTV, as Jai hit an obstruction and was sent airborne, flying several metres before hitting the windscreen of Bryant’s vehicle while the officers were still inside.
Several officers, including Bryant, ran over to assist Jai as he lay on the road.
Crown prosecutor Phillip Strickland SC said a minute before the collision, a police operator gave clear instructions that nobody was to pursue the stolen bike.
The court was also told that Bryant was an experienced police officer of more than 22 years, with the Crown arguing he should have been aware of the potential danger of the road.
Another officer had stopped at the same intersection at the time, Mr Strickland explained, and was “careful to ensure he was not blocking the pathway”, and he knew the bike was “unlikely to stop until directed to do so”.
Bryant will return to court in April, 2026.
Permission was given for Jai to be named and pictured by the media during the proceedings.
