Troy Xerri labelled a ‘coward’ by victim’s family after fatal crash
The brother of NRL star Bronson Xerri has been branded a “coward” by the husband of a woman killed when he ploughed his ute into her car in 2019.
Police & Courts
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The brother of banned NRL player Bronson Xerri has been labelled a “coward” and a “killer” by the heartbroken husband of a woman who died in a horror head-on crash.
Troy Xerri faced a sentencing hearing in the NSW District Court on Friday, after killing 63-year-old mother-of-three Joanne Duke in a horrific head on crash in November 2019.
Xerri lost control of his Toyota HiLux ute and crossed onto the wrong side of Blaxland Rd, Eastwood, ploughing head first into her vehicle at Eastwood on November 13 two years ago.
The mother-of-three died at the scene after suffering catastrophic injuries, while Xerri’s male passenger, Michael Nader was seriously injured and required surgery.
The impact of Xerri’s vehicle hitting Mrs Duke’s Mazda was so severe, the tray of the ute became separated from the rest of the vehicle.
He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death and dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, while a judge found him guilty of driving furiously causing bodily harm during a trial last year.
His barrister Gabrielle Bashir told the court that after the crash, Bronson received death threats directed at his brother, with one text message sent to him reading: “your brother is dead”.
Xerri, who has been in custody for some months and faces up to 10 years in jail for the offences, sat emotionless in the court on Friday as Mrs Duke’s husband Michael, and two of her three sons Zachariah and Noah told the court how her passing had severely impacted their lives.
For three hours, Mrs Duke’s family read victim impact statements to the court, where they remembered their “little darling” who had a zest for life, and would do anything for her boys.
“I always said my day was complete if I could get mum into one of her laughing fits,” Noah said.
“Her laugh was one of a kind and it would always have the power to put a lasting smile on my face no matter what.”
Mr Duke said he would never be the same, and struggled to find purpose in life without his wife.
“891 long days and nights ago I kissed my wife and wished her a good day as she ventured off to work,” he said.
“It was the last time I would ever again see her … and it was a day tainted by a catastrophic event.”
He told the court he visited his wife’s gravesite everyday since she passed, and always made sure there were fresh flowers at the crash site. He also told the court of his sadness that Mrs Duke never met her first grandchild- who was born just months after her death.
The men spoke of the psychological trauma they have endured since the crash, including an inability to work and depressive disorders, after having to identify their mum’s “disfigured” body at the morgue just days after her death, and visiting the scene of the crash.
“The crash scene was more like a bomb scene even a few days after,” Zacharia said.
“There was debris everywhere, it was horrifying.”
The men also described their feelings toward Xerri, saying they were “disgusted” with his “lack of remorse” during the trial and his sentence hearing.
“He has never given any remorse and is a coward for not giving an initial statement to the police,” Mr Duke said.
Ms Bashir told the court her client was also suffering mentally after the crash, experiencing nightmares and flashbacks of the incident.
The Crown prosecutor told the court Xerri had an “appalling” traffic record, and had a demerits point warning letter sent to him just five days before the crash.
“This was not an accident. It was a deliberate criminal act by the offender,” he said.
“The offender completely abandoned responsibility for his driving.”
The court also heard that while on remand in custody he had been disciplined on six occasions, which included two incidents of assault.
The court was packed full of supporters from both the Duke and Xerri families, with Judge Leonie Flannery at some points telling the opposing groups to be quiet as they muttered to each other.
Judge Flannery will hand down her sentence at a later date.
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