Richard Pusey faces court over alleged publishing of graphic images of dead police officers

Porsche driver Richard Pusey wanted $2.2m in compensation for his destroyed car and trauma after the Eastern Freeway crash that killed four police officers, a court has heard.

Despised Porsche driver Richard Pusey was seeking a $2.2m payout following the Eastern Freeway crash that killed four police officers, a court has heard.

Pusey, 44, fronted Sunshine Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday where he is contesting four charges relating to sharing graphic images of the April 2020 crash.

The court heard the former mortgage broker attached images of the dead officers, who were killed after a truck careened into them after they had stopped Pusey for speeding, to a complaint with the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) in November.

In the complaint, Pusey allegedly wrote “nobody wants to own the claim” and that he was seeking $2.2m in compensation for his destroyed car and trauma he suffered having witnessed the crash.

Richard Pusey flagged he was considering applying for bail after an application was last month refused. Picture: Nicki Connolly

“A truck mowed down four hero road safety officers known to their employers as police officers,” he allegedly wrote in the complaint.

“It broke a black Porsche and now these c---s won’t pay out.”

AFCA senior manager Harry Ganavas told the court he felt “repulsed and physically ill” when he viewed the complaint and attached images.

“(I felt) full of revulsion that someone would describe those matters in that way,” Mr Ganavas said.

During the hearing the self-represented Pusey, who sat in the dock and was flanked by two custody officers, was shown the photographs on a laptop but told by Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz he would not receive copies of the “distressing” images.

A voicemail recording in which Pusey allegedly abused insurance staff was also played to the court.

Richard Pusey was seeking a $2.2m payout following the Eastern Freeway crash scene. Picture: Ian Currie

Pusey is also accused of posting another crash photo as part of a Google review about Porsche Centre Melbourne in February this year.

It’s alleged Pusey wrote a one-star review complaining about the warranty for luxury vehicles with the account’s profile picture depicting Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor on the roof of his Porsche.

Prosecutor Anthony Albore said an Instagram account purportedly operated by Pusey had uploaded a photograph of the destroyed Porsche that didn’t show the deceased police officers.

Mr Albore contended that image could have instead been used in the AFCA complaint or in the review.

Pusey is charged with two counts each of using a carriage service to cause offence and committing offences while on bail.

He has pleaded not guilty to all four charges.

The uncharacteristically well-behaved Pusey, who in previous hearings was warned about his repeated interjections, at one point questioned if members of the media were able to use mobile phones in the courtroom.

He flagged he was considering applying for bail after an application was last month refused.

The hearing, which is expected to run for three days, continues.