Bradley Wilkinson allegedly killed Rhyce Harding in fatal road rage incident in Blackett, Sydney

A driver broke down in tears as he watched footage which allegedly shows him dragging a young tradie alongside his speeding ute during a fit of road rage.

A driver broke down in tears as he watched footage which allegedly shows him dragging a young tradie alongside his speeding ute during a fit of road rage.

Bradley Wilkinson, 39, allegedly got into an argument with landscaper Rhyce Harding, 27, when both men were driving to work on the morning of June 20.

Police allege Mr Wilkinson “intentionally and forcefully” grabbed the younger man’s arm through his window and held him against the ute as he “accelerated harshly”.

Rhyce Harding died on Jersey Rd in Blackett last month.

CCTV footage appears to show Mr Harding, who was wearing high-visibility work attire, being dragged alongside the ute as it sped down Jersey Rd in Blackett, in western Sydney.

Police allege the 27-year-old tradie was dragged for around 100m before Mr Wilkinson finally released his hold and Mr Harding was he was fatally run over by the ute’s rear tires.

He was treated by NSW Paramedics but died at the scene.

Police claim Mr Wilkinson fled the scene without stopping to check on the younger man.

He has been charged with manslaughter, failing to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death, negligent driving (occasioning death), and dangerous driving occasioning death – drive manner dangerous.

The 39-year-old wore a green prison tracksuit and made the sign of the cross as he faced Mount Druitt Local Court on Wednesday.

His lawyer Javid Faiz applied for Mr Wilkinson to be released on bail after more than three weeks behind bars on remand.

He submitted Mr Harding had grabbed onto his car with both hands and his client had acted in self defence and “out of fear” when he accelerated down the street.

He relied on a 15-second video taken by a witness, who had been driving behind the two men when they stopped and Mr Harding approached Mr Wilkinson’s ute.

He had been driving a red ute. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

In a sworn statement, the witness said she saw Mr Harding “looking very angry” and shouting as he tried to open the driver’s side door of Mr Wilkinson’s ute.

The witness claimed she saw Mr Harding grab onto the ute with both hands, but didn’t see Mr Wilkinson engage with him or act aggressively.

Magistrate James Gibson noted the witness was “a considerable distance” of two car lengths away from the altercation.

“It was certainly blurry and it was impossible … to determine whether what (the witness) said was in fact the case,” he said of her video.

Mr Faiz said the phone video was “crucial” because it demonstrated the weakness of the prosecution case.

The court was also shown CCTV footage from along Jersey Rd which the prosecution allege shows Mr Wilkinson “driving erratically” before he grabs Mr Harding.

The 39-year-old began crying as the video was played to the court which showed him undertaking Mr Harding at speed and crossing into his lane while navigating a roundabout.

A second clip appears to show Mr Wilkinson’s white ute undertaking the young tradie at speed and cutting him off before Mr Harding brakes suddenly and sounds the horn.

Mr Harding was allegedly held against a ute and dragged for 100m.

Police prosecutor Effie Aronis tendered documents which revealed there had previously been “reports and concerns regarding the defendant’s driving behaviour”.

The court heard the documents were intended to indicate Mr Wilkinson had a “tendency” to “involve himself in road rage incidents”.

Ms Aronis noted his history demonstrated he was “someone who perhaps has a tendency to act in a violent manner” and would pose a risk to the community if released on bail.

She said the CCTV footage and the accounts of two eyewitnesses formed the basis of a “strong prosecution case”.

“It appears to have been a road rage incident which unfortunately cost an innocent person their life,” the police prosecutor said.

“That is a tragic set of circumstances and one which the community would denounce.”

Mr Faiz said his client was willing to comply with strict bail conditions including home detention, ankle monitoring, and the deposit of a $20,000 surety.

Mr Wilkinson agreed he would not occupy the driver’s seat of a car and would not drink alcohol if he were granted bail, his lawyer told the court.

“It’s a very serious matter. He understands the position he’s in,” Mr Faiz said.

Police allege the fatal incident took place on Jersey Rd in Blackett. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

Mr Gibson noted the bail conditions “are the strictest conditions he can offer.”

He said the CCTV footage shown in court seemed to suggest Mr Wilkinson was ”driving in an aggressive fashion” before the altercation with Mr Harding.

The magistrate said the 39-year-old “must have known there must have been a very significant collision” when he allegedly ran over the young tradie and failed to stop.

“I can’t be persuaded it’s anything but a strong prosecution case,” he said.

“It’s a very serious offence which constitutes a significant risk to the community.”

Mr Wilkinson hung his head in his hands and sobbed as Mr Gibson denied his application for bail.

He will remain behind bars until August, when the matter returns to court.

Originally published as Bradley Wilkinson allegedly killed Rhyce Harding in fatal road rage incident in Blackett, Sydney