Adam Moule: Truck driver faces sentence over motorbike rider Matthew Butcher’s death at Palm Beach

Matthew Butcher was killed when his motorbike was hit by a truck at Palm Beach, driven by Adam Moule (pictured). The victim’s family say it is they who’ve been given a ‘life sentence’.

A furniture delivery truck driver who ran down and killed father of four Matthew Butcher, out for a Sunday morning motorcycle ride on the northern beaches, has given the dead man’s family a “life sentence, a Sydney court has been told.

Mr Butcher, 46 went under the 14-tonne truck when its driver Adam Moule, 30, turned in front of the motorcycle on a Sunday morning at Palm Beach 12 months ago.

The beloved family man from Pagewood, who had been riding on Barrenjoey Rd with two of his best mates, was thrown from the bike and pronounced dead at the scene.

Matthew Butcher, 46, of Pagewood, who died when his motorcycle was hit by a furniture removal truck at Palm Beach on April 11, 2021. Picture: Supplied by Butcher family

Moule, who admitted smoking cannabis on the Friday night before the collision, faces a maximum sentence of 18 months in jail.

His heartbroken widow Michelle, and their four grown-up children, were in Sydney’s Central Local Court on Thursday for a hearing into his sentence on a string of charges including negligent driving causing death.

They wore T-shirts specially printed with Mr Butcher’s image in tribute to the husband and dad who was the “backbone” of the family.

Outside of court Mrs Butcher said: “It’s a life sentence for us.

Moule, from the Brisbane suburb of Annerley, was on his way to deliver furniture at a house in Surf Rd, when he turned right, across the path being taken by Mr Butcher. He turned the 10-metre long truck while ignoring a sign prohibited trucks from entering the street if they were more than 6m in length.

In a victim impact statement read out on court, Mrs Butcher said her “life ended on April 11, 2021” when she answered a knock on the door from two police officers, telling her about Mr Butcher’s death.

“The pain and suffering is soul crushing,” she told magistrate Gareth Christofi during the sentencing hearing. “(I am now) debilitated mentally and physically.

“I feel like I’ve also died.”

Mrs Butcher said she was plagued by visions of her husband’s final moments before his death “making my life full of pain and heartache.”

Matthew Butcher, 46, of Pagewood, with his mother Evelyn. Picture: Supplied by Butcher family

She also told the court that one of her daughter’s suffered a miscarriage just days after learning about Mr Butcher’s death.

Speaking directly to Moule, who appeared via a video link from Parklea Jail where he is in custody, Mrs Butcher said: “How can you live with yourself?

Adam Moule, 30, from Annerley in Queensland, leaves Manly Court in April 2021 after being granted bail. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

“You have done irreversible damage to our family for the rest of out lives.”

Daughter Tneil told the court that she now suffers post-traumatic stress syndrome, anxiety, depression and was overcome by panic attacks, nightmares and flashbacks.

“You’ve taken away what could have been 40 more years of my father’s life,” she told Moule.

Mr Butcher’s mother, Evelyn, told Moule in court that the incident “robbed me of my son … and robbed a better future for my family”.

“He doesn’t come around anymore … I’ll never hear his voice. He won't say ‘I love you mum’.

“That was destroyed when you ran your truck over him.”

As well as pleading guilty to the negligent driving charge Moule is also being sentenced for possess a prohibited drug and drive vehicle, illicit drug present in blood.

Moule’s solicitor Mina Wassef told the court that his client was remorseful and understood the impact of his actions and that his failure to drive carefully was “momentary”.

In a facts sheet tendered to court, police stated that Moule told them he did not see the motorbike befiore he turned.

He asked that Moule be released on an Intensive Corrections Order and had already spent five months in custody.

Magistrate Christofi reserved his decision and adjourned the matter to Central Local Court on May 19.

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