Killer driver Bradley Wilkinson sentenced over death of young tradie Rhyce Harding
A man who killed a young tradie in a road rage incident in western Sydney will spend at least 12 years behind bars.
Bradley Wilkinson, 40, appeared via AVL from custody at Sydney’s King Street court complex on Monday in prison greens where he was sentenced to 16 years in prison, with a non-parole period of 12 years.
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He will be eligible for parole in June 2036.
Rhyce Harding, 27, was killed when he was dragged down a busy road by Wilkinson’s utility vehicle and left to die.
The fatal incident on Jersey Rd, Blackett, in June last year sparked a police manhunt and public appeal for information.
Straight after the incident, Wilkinson drove off to his place of work where he finished his day before later calling a lawyer, the court was told.
The following day, Wilkinson handed himself in at Mount Druitt Police station, where he was arrested.
He plead guilty earlier in the year to manslaughter and failure to provide necessary assistance.
Several members of Rhyce’s family attended court on Monday for the sentencing, wearing custom made shirts with the young man’s name and his tattoo design across it.
Several family members were heard gasping in court as the sentence was handed down.
Rhyce’s parents John and Mary Harding told an awaiting media scrum outside court that they are happy with the sentence.
“It sends a message to anybody … that road rages and takes another life to think twice really, road rage is not worth it,” John said.
He went on to describe Rhyce as the glue that held their family together.
“He loved us … he loved all his family, and he was fair, he was a hard worker no matter what and he always cared about everybody,” John said.
Confronting CCTV
Acting Judge Paul Conlon spoke of confronting CCTV footage, which was earlier played for the court, which revealed the extent of the violent incident.
In the vision, Wilkinson’s white Ute is seen pulling in front of Mr Harding’s red Ute, narrowly avoiding a collision.
A loud horn is then heard as Wilkinson came to a stop in the middle of the road, with Mr Harding getting out of his car and confronting Wilkinson.
After an exchange, the white utility is seen driving off suddenly, dragging Mr Harding along the road.
Mr Harding was pinned to the outside of the car and drove down the road before Harding fell under the wheels, the court was told.
In sentencing, Acting Judge Paul Conlon said he was satisfied that Wilkinson “used his vehicle as a weapon” bringing about Mr Harding’s death.
“Hardly a day goes by without the use of road rage … where people are threatened or injured and there is increasing public concern as every citizen should feel safe when driving in their motor vehicle,” he said.
Judge Conlon added Mr Harding passed in “tragic circumstances” which has caused “deep and long-lasting” grief to his loved ones.
The offence falls towards the higher range of objective seriousness for offences of this type, he said.
In an earlier sentencing hearing, Wilkinson told the court he was “running late” to work on the day of the incident, and that he had his teenage son in the passenger seat.
The court was also told of how Wilkinson had previously suffered mental health issues, suicidal ideation, and childhood trauma.
Originally published as Killer driver Bradley Wilkinson sentenced over death of young tradie Rhyce Harding
