Buxton crash driver’s urgent bid for freedom due to mental state

The magistrate who refused bail for the driver in the horror Buxton crash that killed five people was not aware of one thing, a court has been told.

The driver in a horror crash that killed five young people in Sydney’s south has had a bid for freedom in the Supreme Court prioritised due to his mental state.

Tyrell Edwards, 18, remains on suicide watch in jail following his arrest on September 7.

His lawyer Karen Watson told a Supreme Court hearing on Monday that the magistrate who initially refused bail was not aware of his risk of self-harm.

She added a “psych” report was being prepared for the court.

In setting a date for Mr Edwards’ bail application to be heard, registrar George Galanis said the earlier the better.

“I am conscious of the nature of this matter and its seriousness,” he said.

“I am concerned about delaying it more than necessary given the particular circumstances.”

A bail hearing date was set for October 14.

Tyrell Edwards remains on suicide watch following his arrest over the deaths of five of his friends. Picture Facebook. Picture: Facebook

Mr Edwards was behind the wheel when his Nissan Navara smashed into a tree in Buxton, an hour south of Sydney, at around 8pm on September 6.

He was the sole survivor of the wreck, with five passengers aged between 14 and 16 all pronounced dead at the scene.

Funerals for two of the five victims – Summer Williams and Antonio Desisto – are due to be held on Monday.

The others, Gabriella McLennan, Lily Van de Putte and Tyrese Bechard, were all laid to rest at funeral services over the weekend.

Mr Edwards has been charged with five counts of dangerous driving occasioning death – driving in a manner dangerous.

He was refused bail at Picton Court on September 9 after a magistrate was told that Mr Edwards had a history of speeding and multiple licence suspensions.

Mr Edwards was captured on video driving dangerously in the lead-up to the crash, court documents revealed. Picture: NCA NewsWire

Court documents revealed a video was found by police on Mr Edwards’ phone showing him driving dangerously while travelling at speeds of around 90 km/h about an hour before the fatal crash.

According to the documents, Mr Edwards was holding his phone with one hand while “purposely and aggressively” turning the wheel with the other as the vehicle swerves violently.

At the time the video was taken, only the two male victims were in the car. They can be heard laughing and yelling while loud music plays in the background.

Police said witnesses at the scene after the crash reported hearing Mr Edwards say, “I f***ed up, I’m going to jail.”

Prosecutors in Mr Edwards initial court hearing argued the footage showed a “high level of moral culpability” regarding his role in the crash.