Shame of the driver who mocked dying officers after crash

Aman who filmed four dying police officers at the scene of a crash last year while describing it as “justice” is “probably the most hated man in Australia,” a court has heard.

Judge Trevor Wraight said the public outrage over the actions of Richard Pusey is understandable.

The judge was speaking at a pre-sentencing hearing in Melbourne after Pusey, 42, pleaded guilty earlier this month to several charges.

He is due to be sentenced on April 28 and faces a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Pusey, a mortgage broker, was pulled over by the officers for speeding at 93mph on Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway in his Porsche last April. The officers were discussing whether to impound the car when a truck swerved into them.

It missed hitting Pusey because he was urinating at the side of the road.

As other witnesses rushed to help, Pusey got out his phone and made two videos of the scene.

He zoomed in on the faces and the injuries of the officers, three male and one female, insulting them as he did so, and said the scene was “absolutely amazing” and represented “justice”.

Others at the scene urged Pusey to help, but he shrugged them off, saying: “They’re dead.”

He later pleaded guilty to outraging public decency, speeding and reckless conduct.

He also admitted possessing ecstasy, after returning positive tests for both ecstasy and marijuana at the time he was pulled over.

Defence lawyer Dermot Dann said Pusey had asked him to apologise to the families of the officers.

“He’s ashamed, and was ashamed, of the recording and what is said on the recording,” Mr Dann said.

He said Pusey has a severe personality disorder, including anti-authority traits that played into his behaviour at the crash scene.

He said Pusey had been trying to get help for his condition.

His lawyer said Pusey did not directly taunt the dying officers and said there was a place for mercy for him among the condemnation.

Mr Dann said Pusey had spent nearly nine months in custody and asked for his release on a community correction order, which would allow him to serve his sentence outside of prison.

But prosecutor Robyn Harper said Pusey’s actions were deliberate, callous and deprived the officers of the dignity they deserved in their final moments.

The judge agreed to have Pusey assessed for the community order before the sentencing hearing in late April.

In December, the man who was driving the truck, Mohinder Singh, pleaded guilty to 10 charges.

He is due to be sentenced next month.

FACING SENTENCE: Richard Pusey has been described as “probably the most hated man in Australia” for his actions.