Driver’s mum ‘devastated’ after tragic crash
A family has been ripped apart by a horror car crash that killed two young brothers in Sydney’s south.
The driver, Jimmy Brito, 33, remains in hospital under police guard after he allegedly slammed into a tree in Monterey with three children in the car on Friday night.
Brothers Xavier Abreu, 10, and Peter Abreu, 9, died at the scene.
A young girl was also inside the car but escaped without injury.
The best friend of Mr Brito’s mother, Jodie Barnett-Howard, spoke on her behalf to reveal how the incident had devastated the family.
“She’s devastated about the boys, obviously, there’s no mistaking that, but Jim would never intentionally hurt them,” Ms Barnett-Howard told 7 News.
“He loved those kids.”
She claimed the 33-year-old’s own mother hadn’t been allowed to visit him in hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
“When he was in hospital injured, why couldn’t she go and see him?” Ms Barnett-Howard said.
“They just want to be there to support him as a family … he’s got to live with this now.
“She just wants to talk to her son.”
Mr Brito has been charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death and one count of causing bodily harm by misconduct.
Police allege in court documents that he was driving in a “manner dangerous to another person” at the time of the impact.
His lawyer confirmed that his client had spoken to the mother of the two boys, and she had offered to “stand by” him.
“He understands what happened but I don’t think he’s fully comprehended (what’s happened),” Fahim Arya told reporters outside court.
“I don’t think he knows if the two little ones have lost their lives.”
A GoFundMe has raised more than $5000 to support the Abreu family in the wake of the young boys’ deaths.
Mr Brito was granted a two week adjournment and will front Sutherland Local Court on September 7.
