Family of two boys killed in Monterey street race crash share ‘unbearable’ grief

The family of two young boys killed in a street race crash cried in court as footage of a car smashing into a tree and splitting in two was played.

The terrifying six minutes leading up to a fiery crash that killed two young boys during a street race in Sydney’s south has been played in court.

Jimmy Martin Brito, 33, appeared before Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday for sentencing.

Brito pleaded guilty last year to two counts of manslaughter over the August 2023 crash as well as a third charge of causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle and related charge of organising a street race.

Brito was behind the wheel of his Subaru WRX when it left the road on Grande Parade in Monterey and crashed into a tree, killing two children aged 9 and 10 inside the car.

In footage captured on a mobile phone by one of the children from inside the car, kids can be heard screaming and a car’s engine is also heard revving.

The car flies past traffic along the Grand Parade as it approaches Brighton Le Sands.

Tributes to the two boys killed in the crash Picture: NewsWire / Monique Harmer

The 33-year-old driver appeared before the Downing Centre District Court on Wednesday for sentencing.

Family members in court gasped and cried as CCTV footage from a Monterey home in front of the crash site was also played.

The confronting footage reveals the horrific moment of impact as the car crashes into the tree and is ripped apart.

Brito appeared via AVL and cried on screen while harrowing victim impact statements were read.

The grief-stricken parents of the two boys say their family have been “robbed”.

The court was told how on the night of August 25, 2023, the boys’ stepmother Jivonne Garrido and her partner, the boys’ father Sam Abreu, heard emergency service vehicles and said “something weird is happening tonight”.

“As we watched TV, my partner got a call,” Ms Garrido said.

“Little did we know that this call would change our lives forever.”

Ms Garrido said they were in a “state of shock” and “nothing made sense” on that evening when they were asked to identify the boys.

“No parents should have to identify the children they brought into this world,” she said.

“We kept asking, did they suffer?”

Jivonne Garrido and Sam Aberu’s lives were turned upside down by the crash. Picture: NewsWire / John Appleyard

Ms Garrido also spoke of the “unbearable pain” they had experienced over the past 18 months, including sleepless nights, flashbacks, anxiety and depression.

“We used to enjoy life, now we question its meaning,” she said.

“We put on a mask so no one can see our pain, but every day is a struggle.

“Every weekend is a visit to the cemetery.”

Ms Garrido said they had been “robbed” of a lifetime of memories with the boys.

“We will never see them grow up … and turn into young men and have their own children,” she said.

“We will never know what they were to become.

“I can only describe this as being robbed due to a senseless act that has affected not only us but also many others.”

‘CLUTCHING AT STRAWS’

Meanwhile, Judge John Pickering rejected defence barrister Taran Ramrakha’s submission that Brito’s actions were impaired by a mental illness he was experiencing at the time of the crash.

He said the defence was “clutching at straws”, arguing that Brito’s “imperfect” driving record was much more relevant than his mental health.

“Speeding is something that is a result of poor decision making, and it happens far too much in our society, but not everyone that speeds is necessarily suffering from a mental illness,” he said.

“He was a completely irresponsible driver. He enjoyed speeding a car and showing off.”

Police say Brito was racing Adam Yurun, 24, at the time of the crash, with the pair allegedly reaching dangerous speeds of up to 140km/h in an 80km/h zone.

Mr Yurun has pleaded not guilty to charges including dangerous driving occasioning death and failing to stop after the crash and will fight the allegations in court.

The sentencing continues.

Originally published as Family of two boys killed in Monterey street race crash share ‘unbearable’ grief