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

A driver who had cannabis in his system when his 14-tonne truck killed a motorcycle rider on the northern beaches, has been sentenced in court. See the result here

A furniture delivery truck driver who ran down and killed father of four Matthew Butcher, out for a motorcycle ride on the northern beaches, has been jailed for a minimum of 18 months.

With time already served Adam Moule can apply for parole in May, 2023.

Mr Butcher, 46 went under the 14-tonne truck when Moule, 30, turned in front of the motorcycle on a Sunday morning at Palm Beach in April last year.

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

At the time of the collision, at the intersection of Barrenjoey and Surf roads, Moule, 30, had traces of cannabis in his system. He admitted to smoking the drug on the Friday night before the incident.

In Sydney’s Central Local Court on Thursday, Magistrate Gareth Christofi sentenced Moule to 12 months’ jail on one count of negligent driving occasioning death.

Moule was also jailed for six months for two counts of possess prohibited drug and six months for two Covid pandemic related charges — possess false document to influence exercise public duty and not comply with noticed direction.

Matthew Butcher's wife Michelle Butcher (far right) with their four children, (left to right) Ryan, Tneil, Skye and Kirralee, all wearing T-shirts with Mr Butcher’s portrait, outside Central Local Court in Sydney on April 21, after a sentencing hearing for the truck driver Adam Moule. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

The aggregate jail sentence is two years. Mr Christofi set a non-parole period of 18 months.

All the sentences date back to November 17, 2021, when Moule was taken into custody.

Moule was also fined $1000 for drive vehicle with illicit drug present in blood; $500 for possess prohibited drug; $400 for goods suspected stolen on premises and $100 for a bail offence.

He was disqualified from driving for three years.

After a sentencing hearing last month Mr Butcher’s wife Michelle said Moule had given her and their family a “life sentence”.

Adam Moule, 30, from Annerley in Queensland, leaves Manly Court after being granted bail in April, 2021, on a charge of negligent driving occasioning death. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

On Friday Mrs Butcher said she was disappointed with the length of the jail sentence Moule was given, but glad the case was over and the family could now move on.

“I would have liked him to serve more time,” she said.

“But whatever time he spends in jail, it won’t bring Matthew back.

“It’s over now and we want to move on.”

Mr Butcher, from Pagewood, had been riding on Barrenjoey Rd with two of his best mates when the truck pulled in front of him. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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 prohibiting trucks from entering the street if they were more than 6m in length.

A memorial set up by the family of Matthew Butcher, the Pagewood motorcyclist killed when he was struck by a furniture removal van driven by Adam Moule at Palm Beach in 2021. Picture; Supplied by Butcher family

In a victim impact statement read out in 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 the court. “(I am now) debilitated mentally and physically.

“I feel like I’ve also died.”

Matthew Butcher, 46, of Pagewood, with his wife Michelle. Picture: Supplied by Butcher family

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”.

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?

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

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