In court to support Kelly were his mother Donna Kelly, grandmother Barbara Perkins, ex-girlfriend and [Sasha]’s mother Melissa Bailey, and a number of friends including Aaron Robertson, the brother of [Matt Robertson].

Kelly’s maternal grandfather, Peter Perkins, spoke to The Australian at his home yesterday, revealing that his daughter Donna became pregnant with [JESSE Kelly] as a teenager.

Mr Perkins said that 20 years ago, Donna had had a relationship with a man from Sydney’s Arabic community. She fell pregnant with Jesse, but the father — whose identity remains unknown — halted the romance because his family disapproved of racial inter- marriage.

JESSE Kelly, the man accused of sparking riots in Sydney’s Macquarie Fields, has been charged with killing his two best friends.

Fighting back tears as he sat in the dock yesterday, the 20-year- old from Macquarie Fields spoke to his two-year-old daughter, Sasha. “I love you,” he said.

Kelly, whom his lawyer said felt like a “hunted animal”, gave himself up on Wednesday night after living for days in a cave in bushland in western Sydney.

Campbelltown Local Court heard he had been charged with two counts of manslaughter, and one charge of assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and affray.

Dylan Rayward, 17, and Matt Robertson, 19, died after a high- speed police pursuit of a stolen car on February 26. The crash sparked four nights of rioting and continuing violent clashes with police at the housing estate in the southwest.

His arrest came a day after his aunt, Deborah Kelly, was charged with perverting the course of justice by allegedly persuading her nephew to say police rammed his car, causing the crash.

In court to support Kelly were his mother Donna Kelly, grandmother Barbara Perkins, ex-girlfriend and Sasha’s mother Melissa Bailey, and a number of friends including Aaron Robertson, the brother of Matt Robertson.

Outside the court, his lawyer Mark Rumore said he was hopeful his client would now have trial by due process “rather than by politician”.

“He has felt like a hunted animal,” he said.

Kelly’s maternal grandfather, Peter Perkins, spoke to The Australian at his home yesterday, revealing that his daughter Donna became pregnant with Jesse as a teenager.

Mr Perkins said that 20 years ago, Donna had had a relationship with a man from Sydney’s Arabic community. She fell pregnant with Jesse, but the father — whose identity remains unknown — halted the romance because his family disapproved of racial inter- marriage.

“Jesse’s father … will support his son,” Mr Perkins said. “He is a successful businessman. He is going to pay for his court costs.”

He said the only thing that sustained his grandson in the 12 days since the accident was a picture of daughter Sasha he kept in his pocket. “It is a relief for us he didn’t commit suicide,” he said.

“There’s daddy,” the child said during the court appearance. “Let me in.”

“Do you miss me?” Kelly asked. “I am going to see you in a couple of days, all right?”

Kelly’s court appearance came as NSW Police Minister Carl Scully admitted police had probably made mistakes in their handling of the unrest on the depressed housing estate.

“I think in a very difficult environment, the police have done a very good job,” Mr Scully told ABC radio.

“Were mistakes made? Probably. Was it perfect? No.”