Court hears Porsche driver Richard Pusey lived a life of fast cars and drug-taking
Porsche driver Richard Pusey sent photos and text messages to friends, bragging about dangerous speeds he’d reached while driving on public roads and showing off illegal drugs, a court has heard.
Police & Courts
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Little about the courtroom appearance of “the Porsche driver”, Richard Pusey, shifted public perception yesterday. The more you know, perhaps, the less you want to know.
Pusey, the mortgage broker who has “disgusted” his own mother, was a shrunken figure behind glass of Court 13 of the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court. His face covering, and bright purple gloves, lent him a cartoon character bearing.
Was he an unacceptable flight risk, as police argued? Should this man receive bail?
It was impossible to gauge Pusey’s reactions to the list of his odd choices after he was pulled over on April 22 on the Eastern Freeway, and four police officers were killed by a truck.
Pusey did not change pose when his apparent penchant for speeding was read out. The hearing heard how he had discussed technological “blockers” that enabled him to evade police detection.
He was unmoved when Detective Senior Constable Aaron Price spoke of Pusey’s history of “disturbing pleasure” in harassing and threatening those people who tried to hold him to account.
Mr Price rejected questions by Pusey’s lawyer, Vincent Peters, that Pusey’s responses after the horrible collision could have indicated shock.
“What could he have done?” Mr Peters asked.
Mr Price suggested that Pusey could have comforted a dying officer. He could have attempted first aid. In the video Pusey recorded of the crash scene, complete with zoomed close-ups, he sounded calm in making derogatory comments.
He kept recording even as appalled witnesses told him to stop.
Pusey left the scene by hitching a lift with a bystander. There’s “no evidence of shock in his actions”, Mr Price said.
Pusey has often lived outside of norms. Mr Price outlined a lifestyle of fast cars and drug-taking. On the night before the tragedy, Pusey allegedly sent a photo of marijuana being readied to smoke.
He had texted friends about pushing his car to its apparent limit of 350km/h.
Because of social restrictions, Pusey was spared the court reception he might otherwise have received. High-profile cases usually draw crowded galleries dotted with the loved ones of those lost.
Mr Price recounted Mr Pusey’s history of harassment against those who spoke against him.
He had the resources, capacity and “the want” to pursue such options if released.
As for Pusey’s prized Porsche, which he spoke of to a dying officer at the scene?
That wreck was not going anywhere, Mr Peters stated, prompting Mr Price to reveal that Pusey has another high-powered Porsche sitting in his garage.