The police have acknowledged a legal action initiated by Richard Pusey, who is seeking redress in the Supreme Court due to the psychological distress he claims to have suffered after witnessing a fatal crash.
On April 22, 2020, officers stopped Pusey for speeding in his Porsche on the Eastern Freeway in Kew. During this stop, a truck driven by Mohinder Singh, who was both fatigued and under the influence of drugs, collided with four officers attending to Pusey, resulting in a tragic accident.
Mohinder Singh was subsequently sentenced in 2021 to a minimum of 22 years in prison for his role in the devastating incident.
The crash claimed the lives of Constable Lynette Taylor, 60; Senior Constable Kevin King, 50; Constable Glen Humphris, 32; and Constable Josh Prestney, 28, marking it as the deadliest day for police in Victoria’s history.
Pusey, who emerged unscathed, recorded footage of one officer as they lay dying, accompanied by crude remarks, and then fled the scene on foot.
For his actions, Pusey faced legal consequences and served a 10-month jail sentence.
Pusey was then jailed for an additional 10 months after attaching graphic photos of the dying officers in a complaint to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority in 2021.
Pusey is now suing Victoria Police over claims of trauma he suffered from witnessing the crash and his Porsche being destroyed.
Victoria Police denies the claims made in the documents filed with the Supreme Court.
“Victoria Police is aware of this matter being filed with the Court, rejects the assertions made, and will be defending the matter,” a Victoria Police spokesperson told 9News.
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