A Porsche driver who filmed four police officers as they lay dying after a horrific crash has been jailed for 10 months.
Richard Pusey pleaded guilty to a rare charge of outraging public decency and other offences after filming the crash on the Eastern Freeway in the Australian city of Melbourne on 22 April last year.
But, having spent 296 days in custody, his sentence could be complete within days.
Pusey, a mortgage broker and property developer, had been pulled over for driving at 149kmph (92mph) and the officers had been discussing impounding his vehicle when they were hit by a truck.
Pusey, who had MDMA and cannabis in his system, had been urinating on the side of the road when the truck, driven by Mohinder Singh, drove into the emergency lane - and the officers and their vehicles.
"Their names will forever be remembered, their service honoured, and their memories celebrated," Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton.
— Victoria Police (@VictoriaPolice) April 23, 2020
🔗https://t.co/RbaLyc9dm6 pic.twitter.com/0ga0KoA7Kw
Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King and constables Glen Humphris and Josh Prestney were killed.
Pusey recorded two videos at the scene, a total of three minutes and eight seconds.
He zoomed in on the officers' injuries and damaged cars, saying while filming a police car: "That is f***ing justice. Absolutely amazing, that is f***ing amazing."
Filming the truck, he said: "Look at that, man, you f***ing c***s. You c***s, I guess I'll be getting a f***ing Uber home, huh."
Prosecutors accepted he was not taunting the officers but they said he had refused requests to help the injured and to stop filming.
He told police the next day that he was ashamed of the videos and that he said offensive things because "that's how s**t comes out of my head".
In comments reported by Melbourne newspaper The Age, County Court judge Trevor Wraight said Pusey's words and actions had been "not only derogatory and horrible... but also callous and reprehensible".
The judge noted Pusey's personality disorders and shock at what he had seen, but said his actions were a long way from what would be considered normal: calling for emergency services and trying to help the dying officers.
He added: "Your conduct...was heartless, cruel and disgraceful."
The other charges admitted by Pusey were speeding, possessing a drug of dependence, and reckless conduct endangering serious injury - related to him speeding on the same road a month earlier.
His lawyer Dermot Dann QC had suggested a good behaviour bond as punishment, citing time already served, the guilty plea, mental health problems, and the condemnation he had received from the media and the public.
The judge had said last month that Pusey was "probably the most hated man in Australia".
On Wednesday he imposed a 10-month jail term, a two-year good behaviour bond and a fine of $1,000 (£556) for the four charges.
His driving licence was also suspended for two years.
The truck driver, Singh, who was impaired by fatigue and drugs, was jailed for 22 years after admitting four charges of culpable driving causing death among other offences.
Latest Stories
-
Trump picks Pam Bondi as attorney general after Matt Gaetz withdraws
15 mins -
Providing quality seeds to farmers is first step towards achieving food security in Ghana
26 mins -
‘Restoring forests or ravaging Ghana’s green heritage?’ – Coalition questions Akufo-Addo’s COP 29 claims
2 hours -
Give direct access to Global Health Fund – Civil Society calls allocations
3 hours -
Trudeau plays Santa with seasonal tax break
4 hours -
Prince Harry jokes in tattoo sketch for Invictus
4 hours -
Akufo-Addo commissions 200MW plant to boost economic growth
4 hours -
Smallholder farmers to make use of Ghana Commodity Exchange
4 hours -
I want to focus more on my education – Chidimma Adetshina quits pageantry
5 hours -
Priest replaced after Sabrina Carpenter shoots music video in his church
5 hours -
Duct-taped banana artwork sells for $6.2m in NYC
5 hours -
Arrest warrants issued for Netanyahu, Gallant and Hamas commander over alleged war crimes
5 hours -
Actors Jonathan Majors and Meagan Good are engaged
5 hours -
Expired rice saga: A ‘best before date’ can be extended – Food and Agriculture Engineer
5 hours -
Why I rejected Range Rover gift from a man – Tiwa Savage
5 hours