Richard Pusey allegedly told dying constable ‘all I wanted was to go home and have my sushi’ as she lay on ground after truck smash

This article is more than 4 months old

This article is more than 4 months old

An accused drug-driver filmed and abused one of the four police officers killed in a Melbourne freeway crash as she lay dying, a court has heard.

Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor could be heard calling for help before Richard Pusey began filming the crash, Melbourne magistrate’s court was told on Friday.

Pusey allegedly walked up to her and said: “There you go. Amazing, absolutely amazing.

“All I wanted was to go home and have my sushi and now you’ve fucked my fucking car,” Pusey allegedly said.

Pusey, 41, was pulled over for allegedly speeding at 140km/h. Police said he tested positive to ice and cannabis on the Eastern Freeway on Wednesday.

He was allegedly urinating on the side of the freeway when a truck driver smashed into four officers impounding his Porsche 911.

The officer and three of her colleagues, Senior Constable Kevin King and Constables Glen Humphris and Josh Prestney, died at the scene.

Pusey allegedly fled, before asking a witness for a ride to his home suburb of Fitzroy. He was arrested the next day.

Pusey did not apply for bail when he appeared in court charged with offences including dangerous driving, reckless conduct endangering life, failing to render assistance, drug possession and the destruction of evidence.

The four police were killed on Wednesday evening as they were dealing with the Porsche driver on the Eastern Freeway in Kew.

Four Victoria police victims of horror Melbourne freeway crash named Read more

A refrigerated truck veered to the left and hit them at 100km/h as they stood in the emergency lane.

Details of exactly how the crash happened remains unclear. The Victorian police commissioner, Graham Ashton, said on Thursday two officers had intercepted a Porsche 911 that was reportedly travelling at 140km/h just before 5pm on Wednesday afternoon.

The two officers drug-tested the driver, identified as Pusey. After he allegedly returned a positive result, the officers decided to impound the car, Ashton said. Shortly after two highway patrol officers were called to assist at the scene, a large refrigerated truck drove into the four officers.

“It is still quite early in the investigation to describe exactly the movements of that vehicle,” Ashton said.

“The truck itself appears to have moved from one of the traffic lanes in the freeway into the emergency lane and has travelled a short distance in the emergency lane at around about 100km/h and slammed into the rear of the highway patrol vehicle.”

The truck driver had a medical episode and is in hospital under police guard, and was still not fit to be questioned on Friday.

Police raided the truck driver’s Cranbourne home on Wednesday night and are yet to reveal what they found.

Ashton said on Friday police had the results of drug and alcohol tests of the truck driver, whose last name he confirmed as Singh, but would not release them until the driver had been interviewed.

Ashton said four small funerals will be held in the coming weeks for officers, all of which would comply with the current 10-person limit, and the force would make plans for a larger ceremony with full police honours when physical distancing requirements allowed.

“I don’t want any big delays. As soon as it’s possible to do something significant, meaningful that people can attend, I intend that we do that as soon as it’s possible. We will have the plans in place and we will hit the go button and get it done as soon as we can”.

The police minister, Lisa Neville, said on Friday she had spoken to first responders at the scene.

“Just hearing what they did and the support, the love they showed to the four police officers in that scene, again, gave me comfort that those four brave officers were well cared for on Wednesday night.”

Neville said she was overwhelmed by the public’s support of the police force since the accident.

“The last 24 hours, as terrible as it has been, as devastating as it has been, I must say I love the Victorian community.”

The Victoria police’s memorial Facebook page was flooded with posts on Thursday evening paying respects to the officers, including from past and current police.

Flags were also flying at half-mast and landmarks lit up in blue across Victoria on Thursday in honour of the officers.