An unexpected call during a routine police check of vehicle details led to a heart-wrenching discovery for one officer. As she processed the information, she was struck by a chilling realization. “It’s my baby brother, it’s Rhyce,” she cried out, recognizing the vehicle as her brother’s ute.

Overwhelmed with emotion, she immediately called her mother. “I think Rhyce is dead,” she said, her voice filled with fear and disbelief.

Rhyce Harding, just 27, lost his life during a tragic altercation while on his way to work on the outskirts of Sydney in June 2024. The young landscaper’s untimely death has left a void in his family that words can scarcely describe.

In a poignant moment of raw emotion, Harding’s family confronted his killer, Bradley Wayne Wilkinson, during a sentencing hearing at Downing Centre District Court. Their grief was palpable as they shared memories of Rhyce, a beloved brother and son, whose life was cut tragically short.

His distraught relatives relayed their grief to the young landscaper’s killer, Bradley Wayne Wilkinson, on Friday during a sentence hearing in Downing Centre District Court.

Harding’s ashes – brought into the court hearing by his brother Michael Grech – sat beside his four family members in the witness box as each spoke of the incident’s lasting effects.

CCTV footage played in court showed Wilkinson cutting off Harding after exiting a roundabout in Blackett.

A horn is heard, before Wilkinson refuses to allow Harding to merge and avoid a parked car.

The young landscaper then stepped out of his car to approach Wilkinson’s window.

The Crown said Wilkinson, then 39, pinned the younger man to the outside of the car and drove past several houses before Harding fell under the wheels.

Wilkinson left the area before turning himself in the next day.

“Rhyce would want me to forgive you, but I can’t and I don’t know that I ever will,” Ms Grech said to Wilkinson, who appeared by video link.

Harding’s parents spoke in glowing terms of the compassion and generosity the avid kickboxer showed in his life and the high regard he was held by his friends, family and his gym mates.

“Rhyce was a much-loved member of our club, who will always be remembered for his kindness, humbleness and dedication to his training,” his gym said at the time of his death.

The public gallery in the courtroom was filled with his loved ones in matching T-shirts with a design of his tattoo to commemorate him.

“As a parent, you don’t ever think you’re going to organise your own child’s funeral,” Rhyce’s father, John Harding, said in court.

“Rhyce was the glue that held our mismatched family together.”

Mary Harding recalled how her son would rise at 4.30 in the morning just to make her breakfast.

“There is not enough paper or ink that would fulfil the person he was,” she said.

Wilkinson sat quietly while the statements were read out, occasionally wiping his eyes.

He reconfirmed on Friday his guilty pleas to Harding’s manslaughter and failure to provide necessary assistance, first entered in April in the local court.

Wilkinson’s barrister said there was no evidence his client intended to kill or cause grievous bodily harm to Harding.

Both sides were prevented from making further submissions because material such as a sentencing assessment report and evidence from a psychiatrist were outstanding from the court file.

The sentence hearing will continue on October 30.