Porsche driver Richard Pusey ‘should be released’, court hears

Richard Pusey became ‘probably the most hated man in Australia’ after he filmed four dead and dying police officers on Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway, a judge has said.

Richard Pusey became “probably the most hated man in Australia” after he filmed four dead and dying police officers in the aftermath of a collision on Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway nearly a year ago, a judge has said.

Pusey was pulled over for speeding in his 911 Porsche on April 22 last year but was urinating off the side of the road when drugged truck driver Mohinder Singh swerved into the emergency lane, killing Leading Senior Constable Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Glen Humphris and Constable Josh Prestney.

The County Court heard Pusey retrieved his mobile phone from his car and walked around the wreckage, zooming in on the officers’ injuries and describing the scene as “amazing” in his commentary.

“He’s smashed,” Pusey said on a zoom of Constable Humphris, who was trapped between the prime mover and Porsche.

“Look at that, lucky I went and had a piss.”

Pusey has pleaded guilty to one count of reckless conduct endangering life by driving at 147km on the 100km/h freeway, one count of outraging public decency relating to his filming and one count of drug possession.

In a pre-sentence hearing on Wednesday, barrister Dermot Dann QC said Pusey had been battling mental illness for several years and was ashamed of the things he said on the recording.

“[Pusey] recognises he does and says at times some horrible things,” Mr Dann said.

The court heard Pusey made two videos lasting three minutes and eight seconds.

“Look at that man, you f..king c..ts, you c..ts” he said at one point. “I guess I will be getting a Uber home.”

Pusey hitched a ride from the accident scene but voluntarily attended a police station the next day and was questioned about his videos. Mr Dann said Pusey asked police if he could provide the ­videos without the audio and admitted he said “inappropriate” things on the recordings.

“I have got a personality disorder, it’s not very pleasant for anybody,” Pusey told police. “I say horrible things … that’s how shit comes out of my mouth.

“I’m highly offensive, I struggle everyday to keep my mouth shut.”

Mr Dann submitted Pusey be released from jail on a community corrections order, having spent nine months behind bars.

County Court Judge Trevor Wraight said he was “fairly certain” Pusey had suffered a complex personality disorder for a good portion of his life and the disorder drove his decision making. “He has a history of being hot headed, impulsive, volatile,” Judge Wraight said.

He described Pusey’s behaviour at the accident scene as “bizarre” compared to a normal person who might call for help.

Judge Trevor Wraight will sentence Pusey on April 28.