Eastern Freeway truck driver Mohinder Singh launches appeal of his 22-year jail term

The truck driver who hit and killed four police officers in a horror crash on the Eastern Freeway while drug-affected and sleep-deprived is appealing his jail term.

The truck driver who crashed into four on-duty police officers on the Eastern Freeway while drug-affected and sleep-deprived has launched an appeal against his two-decade prison sentence, arguing it was too harsh.

Mohinder Singh, 47, hit and killed police officers Lynette Taylor, Glen Humphris, Josh Prestney and Kevin King on April 22, 2020 after veering his truck into the emergency lane where the officers were standing.

In his previous trial, prosecutors alleged Singh, of Cranbourne, was drug affected, had slept for just five hours in three days and believed a witch was chasing him in the lead-up to the horror crash.

The father of two was in April last year sentenced to at least 18 ½ years’ jail after pleading guilty to four counts of culpable driving causing the death.

But Singh now argues that sentence, which had a maximum term of 22.5 years – was “manifestly excessive”.

The family of police officer Josh Prestney arrives at the Court Of Appeal. Picture: Brendan Beckett

In a hearing before the Court of Appeal on Monday, defence barrister Peter Morrissey SC, said sentencing judge Justice Paul Coghlan failed to give sufficient weight to Singh’s early guilty plea nor did he take into account Singh’s moral culpability for his decision to drive on the day in question.

Mr Morrissey argued there were mitigating factors in Singh’s reason to get behind the wheel of his 20-tonne prime mover while sleep-deprived and drug-affected.

CCTV footage along the Eastern Freeway showed Singh’s refrigerated delivery truck repeatedly drifting into the emergency lanes and veering across lanes without indicating before the deadly crash.

A witness driving near the truck remarked to his mother: “this dude’s going to f---ing kill someone”.

Singh did not react or brake until after the moment of impact with the officers, who were standing in the emergency lane after pulling over Porsche driver Richard Pusey for speeding.

The families of the fallen police attended court to hear the appeal.

Mohinder Singh arrives at the Victorian Supreme Court. Picture: David Crosling

In written submissions to the court, Mr Morrissey noted Singh had displayed other mitigating features including “instant genuine repentance”, “remorse which was palpable, sustained and authentic” and “a sympathetic history of adversity, hard work and family life”.

Mr Morrissey said the early guilty plea “plainly warranted” a significant discount to Singh’s sentence, but submitted Justice Coghlan “said little about it”.

Chief Crown Prosecutor Brendan Kissane, QC, said the decision to drive “was ultimately that of (Singh) and there is no external circumstance … which reduces his culpability in that regard”.

The court heard the sentence was one of the longest imposed in Victoria for the offence.

Mr Kissane submitted the sentence was well within the range open to Justice Coghlan and could not be considered to be excessive.

The hearing continues.