NRL star’s brother labelled ‘cowardly killer’ after fatal crash

The brother of an NRL star crashed his speeding ute into a mother of three because he was in a “hurry to get home”, a court has heard.

The stepbrother of banned NRL star Bronson Xerri has been labelled a cowardly killer by the family of a mother of three who was “slaughtered” in a horror head-on crash.

Troy Anthony Xerri was speeding when he lost control of a Toyota Hilux, crossed onto the wrong side of the road and crashed into 63-year-old Jo Duke’s Mazda hatchback at Eastwood in Sydney’s northwest on November 13, 2019.

Bronson Xerri (left) and Troy Xerri leave Burwood Court in February 2021. Picture: Monique Harmer

A long standing employee and volunteer at Macquarie Hospital, Mrs Duke dedicated much of her life helping patients with mental illness.

Her heartbroken family members spoke publicly about the crash for the first time on Friday at Xerri’s sentencing hearing in the NSW District Court.

They slammed Xerri for failing to offer assistance to their wife and mother immediately after the collision.

Widow Mick Duke with wife Joanne. Picture: 7 News

Zach Duke told the court a high school student passing by the crash site broke into the wrecked Mazda to hold his mother’s hand as she took her last breaths, while Xerri sat nearby and did “absolutely nothing”.

“My mum was fighting for her life for approximately 39 minutes before she succumbed to the many horrific injuries, trapped in her car,” he said.

“Not to do anything to help was a cowardly act. You’re a coward.”

Troy Xerri leaving Hornsby Police Station after he was granted bail following the crash. Picture: Liam Driver

Mr Duke said when he visited the crash site it looked “more like a bomb scene”.

“There was debris everywhere, it was horrifying.

“Mum’s car was completely unrecognisable … the tow truck driver described it as the worst impact he had ever seen in his 12 years in tow truck driving.

“All I can remember is smelling death.”

Jo Duke’s shock death devastated her family, friends and colleagues.

The court heard memories of Mrs Duke’s body at the morgue still haunted Mr Duke.

“There was mum’s body lying flat on the glorified metal stretcher with only her disfigured face exposed and a medical tube hanging out of her mouth,” Mr Duke said.

“It felt like I had been winded … I began shaking uncontrollably, I couldn’t breathe.

“To see my mum in that state just pierced my heart and it’s an image I just can’t get out of my head.”

After pleading guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death and furious driving charges, Xerri faced a Judge-alone trial last year and he was acquitted of a more serious aggravated dangerous driving causing death charge.

Prosecutors had alleged Xerri, whose bail was revoked in July last year, was travelling in excess of 105km/h in a 60km/h zone on Blaxland Road before the crash. He claimed he was driving at about 80km/h.

Troy Xerri faces up to 10 years behind bars for dangerous driving occasioning death. Picture: Monique Harmer

Mr Duke told the court Xerri, who he referred to repeatedly as a “killer”, showed no remorse during the court proceedings.

“The killer and certain members of his family and other supporters also smirked and uttered comments to us throughout the entire suite of court proceedings,” Mr Duke said.

“I’ve also been confronted by a member of his family, which was very distressing.”

Mrs Duke’s husband Mick told the court his wife had been “mercilessly slaughtered”.

“This was no motor vehicle accident, it was human slaughter,” he said.

“ (Xerri) is a coward for not giving an initial statement to police regardless of legal protection.

“He did not attempt to help Jo or others in any way after the destruction he caused.”

Bronson Xerri outside court on Friday. Picture: Simon Bullard

Xerri’s barrister Gabrielle Bashir SC told the court her client had suffered “extra-curial” punishment and had death threats made about him, which caused anxiety and made him “easily startled”.

Ms Bashir said Xerri had been denied medication in custody and received a diagnosis of post traumatic stress disorder and substance abuse disorder.

The Crown prosecutor said Xerri had an “appalling” traffic record and received a conditional release order for unlicensed driving five months before the crash.

Five days before the crash, the prosecutor said Xerri was sent a demerit point warning letter.

The court was also told Xerri’s record included several speeding offences, including for exceeding the limit by more than 20km/h.

“Despite the leniency, the offender demonstrated that he is a serious threat to the safety of other road users,” the prosecutor said.

“He knew he was doing wrong when he was driving but he persisted.”

The court heard Xerri said he was speeding because he was “in a hurry to get home”.

Judge Leonie Flannery will sentence Xerri in May.

Xerri’s brother, former Cronulla Sharks centre Bronson Xerri, has been banned from playing NRL until 2024 after a positive test result indicated use of performance enhancing substances including testosterone.

Originally published as NRL star’s brother labelled ‘cowardly killer’ after fatal crash