Racing king Bert Vieira says wife needs 24-hour support after car crash

Bert Vieira says his wife needs two carers to provide round-the-lock support three years after a police officer hit her car.

Sydney horseracing figure Bert Vieira says he is living in a “nightmare world” and has revealed his wife needs two carers to provide round-the-lock support three years after a police officer hit her car.

NSW Police Senior Constable Harry Little, 43, of Engadine, was charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm after he smashed into Gai Vieira’s car on a busy Cronulla road in September 2018.

Ms Vieira suffered a brain injury when her car was hit.

Bert Vieira outside court.

Gai Vieira (left) requires constant care following the crash.

A NSW District Court jury returned a verdict of not guilty to dangerous driving at a retrial before Little pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.

Mr Vieira – who owns champion horse Trapeze Artist – told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday he felt let down by the jury’s verdict.

He said that Ms Vieira requires two carers constantly in their house.

“Completely disillusioned … it’s not fair,” Mr Vieira said.

“We try to do everything we can, I’m living in a nightmare world, I have two carers taking care of her every single minute of the day.

“It’s the worst thing that’s ever happened in my life.”

Mr Vieira also said Ms Vieira was able to speak but could only pronounce “very slowly”.

Gai Vieira was critically injured in the crash. Picture: 9 News

“I’ve taken care of her for three years, she’s still in a wheelchair,” he said.

Little’s first trial heard he had been travelling at 135km/h in a 70 zone just before the collision as he pursued another driver using their mobile phone along the Kingsway in Cronulla.

The court was told his patrol car did not have its lights and sirens activated as it wove in and out of traffic before slamming into Ms Vieira, then 68, as she drove her car into an intersection.

In February 2021 the first jury was discharged after it was unable to reach a verdict on whether Little was guilty of dangerous driving.

He had pleaded not guilty to that charge.

The retrial’s jury returned a verdict of not guilty to dangerous driving after deliberating for two hours and 20 minutes.

Little will return to court for a sentence hearing on February 25 next year.

The maximum penalty for the offence of negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm is a fine of $2200 or nine months jail.

Little’s barrister, Hament Dhanji SC, said during the first trial the Crown case against his client was “deeply flawed” and that there was evidence Ms Vieira had unexpectedly pulled out in front of the police officer.