Australian who filmed 4 dead and dying police sent to prison

A speeding driver in Australia was sentenced to 10 months in prison on Wednesday for offenses including what a judge described as ”heartless, cruel and disgraceful” filming of four de and dying police officers who h just been hit by a truck on a freeway.

Richard Pusey, a 42-year-old mortgage broker, h earlier pleed guilty in Victoria state County Court to a rarely-prosecuted charge of outraging public decency over his commentary in crash scene videos shot with his phone. It was first time charge h been prosecuted in state since 1963.

most serious charge he mitted was reckless conduct endangering persons, which carries a potential maximum of five years in prison. Judge Trevor Wraight sentenced Pusey to 10 months in prison, backdated to when he was taken into custody 296 days ago. Police h pulled Pusey over for driving his Porsche at 149 kilometers (93 miles) per hour on Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway in April last year.

Police were considering impounding sports car because Pusey h far exceeded 100 kph (62 mph) speed limit when a truck crashed into officers, Porche and two police cars in an emergency stopping lane. Pusey, who avoided injury because he h been urinating behind roside bushes at time, did not help but inste filmed scene. His profanity-len commentary while filming included “he’s smashed,” “justice,” “absolutely amazing” and “beautiful.”

“I think everyone got cleaned up,” Pusey said. “I guess I'll be getting a ... Uber home, huh.” When one of five bystanders who came to aid of stricken officers asked Pusey to help, he replied: “y’re de,” and continued filming. Wraight described Pusey’s conduct as “callous and reprehensible.” “Your conduct ... was heartless, cruel and disgraceful,” judge said.

Wraight told Pusey that ongoing media coverage of case showed that “public has demonized you.” judge said while Pusey’s personality disorder might go some way to explain his behavior, it was a serious case of conduct that outraged public decency. Pusey h also pleed guilty to speeding offences and possessing illicit drug ecstasy, which he tested positive to using along with cannabis in roside testing after he was pulled over. He was fined 1,000 Australian dollars ($773) and was disqualified from driving for two years.

While his sentence is almost completed, he is likely to remain in custody for unrelated matters. Two weeks ago, Mohinder Singh, truck driver who killed four officers, was sentenced to 22 years in prison. He h been drug-affected and sleep-deprived when he struck officers and pleed guilty to four counts of culpable driving causing death, three charges of drug trafficking and one of possessing illicit drugs.

Image Credits: AP