The truck driver at the centre of a crash which left four police officers dead on Melbourne's Eastern Freeway has pleaded guilty to causing their deaths.
Key points:
- Mohinder Singh pleaded guilty to 10 charges, including culpable driving causing death
- The accident represents the largest loss of officer life in a single incident in Victoria Police history
- Singh's lawyer apologised to the families of the victims on his client's behalf
Mohinder Singh, 48, today appeared in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, where he revealed he would accept responsibility over the incident in April.
Police officers Glen Humphris, Kevin King, Lynette Taylor and Joshua Prestney died when Singh's truck slammed into them.
The crash represents the largest loss of officer life in a single incident in Victoria Police's history.
Singh is pleading guilty to 10 charges, including four counts of culpable driving causing death, along with drug trafficking and ammunition charges.
He was facing 37 charges, but most were withdrawn by prosecutors.
Today, Singh's barrister, Peter Morrissey SC, apologised to the families of the police officers on behalf of his client.
"They are innocent people, and he pleads guilty now, and we will conduct the proceedings very respectfully in the Supreme Court.
"Although Victoria Police have taken a bit of a hammering in recent times, we would like to note the professionalism with which they conducted the investigation in this case, in very emotional and trying circumstances."
On April 22, Leading Senior Constable Taylor and First Constable Humphris pulled over Richard Pusey for allegedly driving his Porsche at 149 kilometres per hour on the Eastern Freeway.
Two other officers — Senior Constable King and Constable Prestney — then arrived at the scene and were standing in an emergency lane when a truck, driven by Singh, veered into the lane, killing all four.
Mr Pusey faces 11 charges, including reckless conduct endangering life, possessing a drug of dependence and outraging public decency and has been committed to stand trial in Victoria's County Court, where he has vowed to clear his name.
At a previous court appearance, Singh's lawyer told the court his client was "deeply saddened and distressed" by the crash and had been suffering from anxiety and panic attacks.
Today, the court heard that another man charged with manslaughter over the crash, trucking manager Simiona Tuteru, is planning to contest the allegations against him.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiaWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvbmV3cy8yMDIwLTEyLTAzL2Vhc3Rlcm4tZnJlZXdheS10cnVjay1kcml2ZXItbW9oaW5kZXItc2luZ2gtcGxlYWRzLWd1aWx0eS8xMjk0NTg3MtIBJ2h0dHBzOi8vYW1wLmFiYy5uZXQuYXUvYXJ0aWNsZS8xMjk0NTg3Mg?oc=5
2020-12-02 23:39:00Z
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