Bailey Camilleri’s Netflix streaming caused dangerous driving that killed Sydney teacher Gemma Thompson

A young dad was distracted by streaming the Big Bang Theory while driving when he swerved and fatally hit a Sydney teacher, a judge has ruled.

A recently engaged schoolteacher was killed because a young dad was streaming The Big Bang Theory on his phone, causing him to drive dangerously, a judge has ruled.

Judge Sophia Beckett found Bailey Camilleri’s distraction over Netflix was the main reason for the death of Gemma Thompson in November 2021.

Camilleri had earlier pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death regarding the crash in the northwest Sydney suburb of Llandillo.

But in dispute were the facts regarding the exact cause of his manner of driving.

In a lengthy judgment at Parramatta District Court, Judge Beckett ruled Camilleri was “distracted by a streaming program on his mobile phone”.

Gemma Thompson. Picture: Facebook/Bede Polding College

She said “there was no evidence to say he was not able to have inadequate sleep in the days before the crash,” after the defence had argued sleep deprivation was a main contributor.

Reading from agreed facts, Judge Beckett said Camilleri’s truck and Ms Thompson’s car were both travelling at the 80km/hr speed limit when they collided, causing “catastrophic damage” to Ms Thompson’s car.

She described how one nearby resident “heard a bang” and ran to the road, where Camilleri said words to the effect of “my eyes closed and I opened them and she was on the floor”.

Judge Beckett said he was reported to be in a state of shock, crying and in disbelief.

Three days later he told police he had no memory of the crash.

Bailey Camilleri. Picture: Facebook

The court heard investigators found a USB Apple iPhone charging cable was plugged into Camilleri’s adaptor in the power outlet of the centre console, which looped through the steering wheel and was left dangling towards the floor.

“During the police interview he said ... the only thing he could remember is his partner coming home the night before and then waking up in hospital — he’s not aware of any medical condition that would cause black out other than trauma,” Judge Beckett said.

Camilleri had told police he kept his mobile phone in his lunch box while driving, that he did not charge it from the car and he didn’t remember accessing Netflix.

But a Cellebrite phone report showed he did exactly that.

The crash scene. Picture: 7 News

Judge Beckett said the report found Camilleri connected his phone to his Bluetooth outlet before leaving work on the morning of the crash.

It revealed his phone was unlocked with The Big Bang Theory streaming on Netflix in the 11 minutes before the impact at 7.27am.

“The evidence suggests either he lied directly after the crash about being asleep or alternatively was in shock and thought he must have fallen asleep,” Judge Beckett said.

“I have not made a positive finding that comments made at scene were a lie, but I accept where he said he kept his phone at various times was a lie.”

Gemma Thompson was a science teacher at Bede Polding College in South Windsor for two years before she was killed.

She had recently become engaged to her partner.

Camilleri, whom the court heard has suffered extreme mental health issues since the crash, is due to be sentenced on August 31.