Officer convicted over 2022 death of Indigenous teenager Jai Wright

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A warning this story contains the name and image of an indigenous person who has died. A New South Wales police officer has been found guilty of dangerous driving which resulted in the death of Indigenous teenager Jai Wright. Legal groups believe it's the first time an officer has been convicted over an Indigenous death in custody in Australia.

Transcript

00:00Outside Darlinghurst District Court, a sacred ceremony in honour of Jai Wright.

00:08The 16-year-old was killed when the allegedly stolen trail bike he was riding collided with

00:14Sergeant Benedict Bryant's unmarked police car in Everleigh in February 2022. He was thrown from

00:21the bike, suffering critical head injuries, and died the next day. Three years on, his family

00:27finally have some justice. It's a big weight off all of our shoulders. Judge Jane Culver found

00:33Bryant guilty of dangerous driving occasioning death, saying the accused so seriously failed

00:39to properly manage the vehicle that he created a real danger, finding that Bryant did not have

00:45his lights and sirens activated and was aware of a police directive that the trail bike was not to

00:51be pursued. He ought to have known the deceased may not stop because a vehicle is placed in

00:56their direct path. As the verdict was read, Bryant was head down and appeared to have no reaction

01:03while Jai's family and supporters cried out, overcome with emotion. He never left the house

01:09without saying I love you and cuddled every day. Bryant's lawyers said they intend to appeal the

01:15decision. Could have been avoided if everyone was at home and in bed. Bryant left court on bail.

01:21Were you shocked by the verdict? He's expected to be sentenced next year. If things can change in

01:27the future in regards to relationships between Aboriginal people in this country and the police

01:33force, maybe this won't happen again. Hopes the community can now come together.

01:39if you have a question. We did a very good reason. Have you ever had this problem?

01:50That's why I was trying to make a statement. We don't care about it. I'm trying to make a statement.

01:52We don't care about it. I don't care about it. We don't care about it.

01:53If you're having a statement, you know the fact that he didn't come up here. If any what

01:55America says, you don't know. You don't care about it. If you're having a statement, I'm looking at it.

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