Tommy Balla faces sentence for crash that killed Sydney cop Aaron Vidal

The fiancee of a young Sydney police officer killed after another driver ran a red light has broken down in court recalling their last texts to each other.

The heartbroken fiancee of a young Sydney police officer killed in a traffic motorcycle crash has broken down in court as she recalled the moment she saw his dead body lying among wreckage on the road.

Senior Constable Aaron Vidal was on the way home from work when he collided with a Mitsubishi ute driven by aspiring rapper Tommy Balla, who ran a red light at a Rouse Hill intersection on June 18, 2020.

Constable Vidal, 28, also served in the Australian Army and had learned he would become a father for the first time just one month before his life was cut short.

Senior Constable Aaron Vidal, aged 28, with his fiancee Jessica Loh.

Balla, 38, faced a sentence hearing at Parramatta District Court on Friday after he pleaded guilty to a charge of dangerous driving occasioning death.

In court, Constable Vidal’s family remembered him as a funny, loving, charismatic, loyal, adventurous and dedicated young man who was excited to become a father.

His fiancee Jessica Loh, who was 12 weeks pregnant at the time of his death, told the court “life felt complete” for the couple, with a wedding on the horizon, along with a baby.

She said her partner texted her at 4.44pm on June 18 to tell her he’d finished his shift early and would be home soon.

“I replied, ‘OK ride safe’,” Ms Loh said.

The couple’s son Etzio Vidal was born in January 2021.

But when Constable Vidal didn’t show and was not returning her calls and messages, she knew something was wrong.

Ms Loh said she checked traffic alerts and her “worst nightmare” was realised when she saw there had been a crash at the time her partner would have been passing through Rouse Hill.

“I knew it was Aaron. I called a nearby hospital to see if he’d been checked in and no he hadn’t,” she said. “I knew in my mind he hadn’t survived.”

She said she needed to be with him so she drove to the scene.

“I kept repeating, ‘Hang in there babe I’m coming, I’ll be with you soon’.”

But when she arrived she saw him lying on the road and was told by a police officer he had died.

Aaron Vidal’s fiancee Jessica Loh and father Chief Inspector David Vidal embrace at the constable’s funeral at St Mary's Cathedral. Picture: Rohan Kelly

Later she recalled visiting the morgue to see Constable Vidal’s body and tell him they were having a son, who has now gone on to be named Etzio.

“My life without Aaron is excruciating,” Ms Loh said.

“I miss our intimacy and struggle with the concept of not having a husband to go home to.

“If not for the actions of the defendant, Aaron would be with me. We would be sitting at home with our baby Etzio together.

“Instead, I am a single mother struggling to come to terms with the death of my beautiful partner who was killed at only 28 years old with his whole future ahead of him.”

Balla sobbed throughout the proceedings as he sat listening in the dock, facing his supporters across the courtroom.

Aaron's father Chief Inspector David Vidal speaking at his funeral. Picture: 7 News

ConstableVidal’s family and friends gathered in the gallery, all wearing police legacy ribbons pinned to their lapels, before several of them rose to read out gut-wrenching victim impact statements.

Constable Vidal’s father, Chief Inspector David Vidal, broke down just moments after entering the witness box as he remembered a son he was sure would have risen to become police commissioner.

He said his beloved son had been taken by the selfish actions of one man, Balla, who could not wait a few minutes for the lights to change.

“Those few minutes … were worth more than my son’s life,” he said.

Inspector Vidal, who worked with his son at the Sydney City command, said his family had been robbed of a son and brother, Ms Loh of a husband and Etzio of a father.

“This will continue to be the dark cloud of devastation and emptiness we will feel forever,” he said.

“Aaron is my son and my hero, I will miss him with every remaining breath in my body.”

Tommy Balla leaves Riverstone Police Station after being released on bail. Picture: Toby Zerna

Taking the stand Balla apologised to Constable Vidal’s family and revealed how he had struggled with the lingering effects of that fateful day.

“I do not ask or expect forgiveness, as I do not forgive myself,” he said.

“I think about you every day. Every moment of every day. It does not stop. I will live with this for the rest of my life. I am truly sorry.”

The father-of-two claimed he didn’t realise the right hand arrow had gone red until after he entered the intersection but made the wrong decision to proceed.

“I would never hurt anyone,” he said.

Balla will be sentenced at a later date.