THE family of a cyclist murdered in a hit and run has told a court about their ongoing pain and the devastation it has had on their everyday lives.
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Leeton man Stephen O'Grady, 33, was cycling in the town on March 25, 2018, when a Toyota HiLux struck him from behind and killed him.
The driver, Narrandera man Jonwa Rowe, failed to stop after the collision about 2am on Currawang Avenue.
Rowe, 27, has pleaded guilty to one count of murder and appeared in Wagga Supreme Court on Friday for a sentencing hearing.
The court was shown CCTV footage showing Rowe driving at a fast pace towards Mr O'Grady across the road.
The footage also showed Rowe running over the victim after the collision.
The court heard that the incident happened after an altercation between the two at a service station earlier that night.
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In his victim impact statement, Tony O'Grady, Stephen's older brother, said the weeks after the murder "was hell" for family and friends.
"His life was taken under the most horrific circumstances," Mr O'Grady said.
"To run over someone intentionally is the act of a coward."
Mr O'Grady said that no sentence would ever be enough for the crime and that he suffers depression because of it.
"When the time finally arrived to lay Stevie to rest, it was the hardest day of my life," Mr O'Grady said.
"Stevie was taken from us in such a devastating way ... to say it is a difficult time for my family is an understatement.
"Stevie's not in any pain. The pain is felt by his family and friends.
"Our family has been shattered."
In his statement, Stephen O'Grady Senior said he had trouble going back to work and had to take time off.
"[The] change to our family is unbelievable," the statement reads.
"He's been taken away from me, I'm lost without Stephen."
The statement states that his son surrounds the family everywhere because they are living in a small community.
Following the statements, Crown prosecutor Trevor Bailey argued that the evidence, including CCTV footage, showed that Rowe intended to kill Mr O'Grady.
Mr Bailey said the attack was deliberate and that nowhere in Rowe's written statement does he say he was sorry.
He also said the only evidence of provocation that set Rowe "on a murderous course" was the victim refusing to shake his hand at a service station earlier that night.
"He is someone who would have to pay a significant penalty," he said.
Defence barrister Eric Wilson argued for leniency based on his client's early guilty plea, remorse and diagnosed mental conditions.
"He accepts his responsibility ... he's expressed very early his remorse for the injury and damage to the family of Mr O'Grady, " he said.
He also argued that the murder was not premeditated. Justice Michael Walton has reserved his sentence until October 25.
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