Police sergeant found guilty of causing death of 16-year-old Indigenous teenager Jai Wright | Australian police and policing

A police sergeant who was told not to pursue a teenager on a road bike was told he drove his unmarked car into his path, causing the teenager’s death.

Benedict Bryant, 47, was found guilty on Friday of dangerous driving causing the death of local teenager Jai Kalani Wright in Sydney’s inner suburbs in February 2022.

Judge Jane Culver ruled Bryant should have known that placing his car without its lights and sirens on could have caused a collision that posed a serious risk to the 16-year-old.

Bryant was behind the wheel as he parked the car at the end of the bike lane and knew the teenager was coming down quickly.

Jai, who was thrown from his bike after the collision with the car, suffered serious head injuries and died the next day at Prince Alfred Hospital.

Although there was no evidence that the sergeant intended to injure or kill the teenager, the judge found that a person of his experience should have known that obstruction would pose a danger.

Culver also found Bryant failed to consider how other cars parked at the intersection would affect the boy’s ability to see the police car in his path.

“The presence of these other vehicles created a visible and physical obstruction to the defendant… which required the defendant to exercise increased caution,” he said.

More than 40 members of the teenager’s family packed the Darlinghurst courtroom, while dozens more filled the overflow hall.

Bryant sat with his head bowed and eyes closed for most of the hearing as the judge announced his decision.

Speaking outside court, a supporter of Bryant said he would appeal the decision and said the incident would never have happened if everyone had been “in bed as they should be”.

Jai’s father, Lachlan Wright, said outside the court that he hoped the decision would signal a reset of relations between police and First Nations people.

“If things could change in the future in terms of relationships between Aboriginal people and policing in this country, maybe this may not happen again,” he said.

Bryant will return to serve his sentence on April 17.

• For information and support in Australia Call 13THREAD For a crisis support line for Indigenous Australians, call 13 92 76; or call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978 and Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.