Image: NSW Police Sergeant Benedict Bryant departs after the Inquest into the death of Jai Wright was suspended and referred to The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) at the Lidcombe Coroners Court in Sydney, Tuesday, January 30, 2024.
by GRACE JOHNSON
The NSW Police officer that pursued Indigenous teen Jai Wright in an unmarked car, leading to the boy’s death, has been charged.
An inquest into the Dunghutti boy’s death began on January 29, almost two years after he died.
The NSW State Coroner then suspended in the inquest and referred the matter to the Department of Public Prosecutions (DPP), making it possible for the officer involved to face criminal charges.
Since then, the DPP has announced it will prosecute the officer for one count of negligent driving occasioning death and one count of dangerous driving occasioning death.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Jai’s parents Lachlan Wright and Kylie Aloua said they were “emotional and relieved” to hear that charges were laid.
“We ask our community and all of Jai’s supporters to hold back on comments about the case for now while the legal process plays out. Thank you to everyone for your support over these two tough years.”
On February 19, 2022, the sixteen-year-old was riding a trail bike in Alexandria about 7.30am, which NSW Police had been stolen earlier that morning.
Jai’s bike collided with the officer’s car, causing severe head trauma. He died in hospital the next day.
NSW Police launched an investigation but in the weeks following the incident, Jai’s parents said they were being “given inconsistent information by police as to what caused our child’s death”.
At the time of the DPP’s referral, Jai’s parents released a statement saying, since their son’s death, “we have been searching for the truth. We need to know the truth so that we can live our lives and move forward.”
“This referral has given us a lot of hope, we have faith that we will get justice for Jai.”
The officer will face court on March 21.
