A man claims he “panicked” and was “running late for work” when he killed another man in a road rage incident in western Sydney, a court has been told.

Bradley Wilkinson, 40, appeared before the Darlinghurst District Court on Thursday in prison greens for a sentencing hearing.

Police alleged Rhyce Harding, 27, was killed when he was dragged 100 metres down a busy road by a utility vehicle and left to die.

Several heartbroken members of Rhyce’s family sat in court on Thursday, wearing custom made shirts with the young man’s name across it.

The fatal incident on Jersey Rd, Blackett, in June last year sparked a police manhunt and public appeal for information.

The following day, Wilkinson attended Mount Druitt Police station, where he was arrested.

He pleaded guilty earlier in the year

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