In one of the worst traffic incidents in the nation, bus driver Brett Button is accused of causing ten fatalities and twenty-five injuries. The police case against Button has been concluded.
In today’s Newcastle Local Court, Button’s case was addressed in passing.
The case will be consented to be rescheduled for charge certification in January of next year, according to defense attorney Chris O’Brien, following the completion and delivery of Button’s police brief of evidence.
When the matter is transferred to the NSW District Court, Button will be charged with specific offenses, which are determined by the NSW Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Button, 59, is now being held on bail and is not required to appear in court today since he is being represented by legal counsel. He has not yet entered a plea to any of the 63 allegations against him.
On June 11, at around 11.30 p.m., he is accused of losing control of a bus transporting wedding guests from the Wandin Valley Estate to Singleton in the Hunter Valley.
The bus rolled onto its side after slamming against a guard rail.
It has been reported that Button told some passengers to “fasten your belts” prior to the deadly crash by turning the Wine Country Drive roundabout at Greta too quickly.
A large number of people on board were Australian rules football players from Singleton Roosters.
In addition to the 25 counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct when driving the 57-seat Volvo bus and causing it to roll on to its rear side, Button is also charged with 10 counts each of dangerous driving and negligent driving causing death, nine counts each of dangerous driving and negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm.
Today, O’Brien informed the court that he was dropping an earlier request for a suppression order based on Button’s residential address. He didn’t say why, though.
On October 18, the defense attorney requested the injunction, arguing that “certain individuals” may cause issues if they discovered Button’s residence.
Judge Caleb Franklin publicly overturned the temporary non-publication order on Button’s address and consented to postpone the case until January 17.
The bus crash claimed the lives of ten people: Angus Craig, 28, from Queensland, Zach Bray, 29, from Byron Bay, Tori Cowburn, 29, and Rebecca Mullen, both of Singleton; Nadene McBride and her daughter, Kyah, 22, of Singleton; Kane Symons, 21, from Tasmania; Andrew Scott, 35, and his wife Lynan, 33, of Singleton; and Darcy Bulman, 30, from Melbourne.
The people on the bus had been to Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell’s wedding earlier.
The bus’s 25 injured passengers’ names have been withheld.
