Truck driver faces court on 37 charges related to deaths of four police
A truck driver charged over the deaths of four police officers in a crash on the Eastern Freeway has faced court for the first time since he was charged with 33 additional offences in August.
Mohinder Singh, 47, was initially charged with four counts of culpable driving causing death in the days after the April 22 crash.
Mohinder Singh.Credit:Nine News
In August, police said the investigation was ongoing and the 47-year-old had been charged with 33 more offences, including drug trafficking.
The additional charges include four counts of dangerous driving causing death, driving under the influence, trafficking ice and cannabis and a number of other drug-related offences.
During a brief committal mention in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday, Mr Singh appeared via video link wearing a green jumper and with buzz-cut hair.
His lawyer Steven Pica said that they had engaged an expert witness who has undertaken a number of video conference interviews with Mr Singh. However, the expert has been unable to complete a report into the accused as he hasn't been able to have a face-to-face session with him in prison.
One of the police cars being removed from the scene of the Eastern Freeway crash. Credit:Eddie Jim
Mr Pica applied to have the case adjourned while they arranged for Mr Singh to see the expert and finish his report.
The case was adjourned to November 12.
Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King and constables Glen Humphris and Josh Prestney were killed on April 22 as they were impounding a Porsche on the Eastern Freeway at Kew.
In a statement released by his lawyer in the days after the crash, Mr Singh was said to be "genuinely sorry and saddened that four people have lost their lives as a result of the collision".
Senior Constable Kevin King, Constable Josh Prestney, Leading Senior Constable Lynette Taylor and Constable Glen Humphris were killed in the Eastern Freeway collision.
"He is acutely aware of the impact upon the families, friends and work colleagues of those that lost their lives."
The additional charges came several weeks after a Victorian manager at Connect Logistics trucking company was charged with manslaughter in connection to the crash.
Frankston man Simiona Tuteru, 49, was arrested and charged with four counts of manslaughter on August 1.
A court heard that Mr Tuteru oversaw the co-ordination of Connect Logistics truck drivers and allegedly knew that Mr Singh's mental state had deteriorated due to a lack of sleep and drug use before the Eastern Freeway crash.
In May, Connect Logistics was penalised for a string of safety breaches including truck defects and using fatigued drivers.
NSW police spent a week investigating the western Sydney company and issued 35 infringement notices.
This included two trucks which were found to have major defects, including oil leaks and excessive brake-pad wear, and 17 trucks with minor defects, including headlight damage and unsecured bolts.
The four Victorian police officers were in the emergency lane preparing to arrest Porsche driver Richard Pusey, who was allegedly caught speeding, when they were hit by the truck.
Mr Pusey is accused of filming the dead and dying officers on his phone before fleeing the scene.
Mr Pusey was charged with 15 offences including reckless conduct, behaving in an indecent or offensive manner and the rare offence of committing an act outraging public decency. He will next face court next week.
Simone is a crime reporter for The Age. Most recently she covered breaking news for The Age, and before that for The Australian in Melbourne.