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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National

Expert evidence being collected in Greta bus crash case

Family of bus crash victim Dr Rebecca Mullen leave court

More expert evidence is being collected in the Greta bus tragedy case, a court has heard.

Brett Andrew Button was excused from personally appearing when the matter was briefly mentioned in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday, at which time an extra 52 charges were laid against him.

Mr Button was initially charged in June with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death after a bus crash on Wine Country Drive claimed the lives of 10 passengers and injured 25 others.

The court heard on Wednesday morning that there remained some outstanding expert evidence that was required before the full brief of evidence was complete.

Magistrate Janine Lacy granted an application from the Department of Public Prosecutions to allow NSW Police a further 48 hours to access material supplied by bus company Linq and Northern Integrated Pain Management, which had been filed under subpoena.

Matt Mullen, the father of Greta bus crash victim Dr Rebecca Mullen, leaves Newcastle court on Wednesday. Picture by Peter Lorimer
Matt Mullen, the father of Greta bus crash victim Dr Rebecca Mullen, leaves Newcastle court on Wednesday. Picture by Peter Lorimer
Matt Mullen, the father of Greta bus crash victim Dr Rebecca Mullen, leaves Newcastle court on Wednesday. Picture by Peter Lorimer
Matt Mullen, the father of Greta bus crash victim Dr Rebecca Mullen, at Newcastle court on Wednesday. Picture by Peter Lorimer
Defence solicitor Jemma O'Brien, for Greta bus crash driver Brett Andrew Button, at Newcastle court on Wednesday. Picture by Peter Lorimer
Matt Mullen, father of bus crash victim Dr Rebecca Mullen, arrives at court. Picture by Peter Lorimer
Matt Mullen, the father of Greta bus crash victim Dr Rebecca Mullen, leaves Newcastle court on Tuesday. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Mr Button was excused from appearing personally in court again on the next occasion after defence solicitor Jemma O'Brien told the court there were "issues" with his ability to get to court in Newcastle.

The Newcastle Herald reported last week that prosecutors had filed charges against Mr Button related to people injured in the crash.

He was on Wednesday officially charged with 25 counts of causing bodily harm by misconduct while in charge of a motor vehicle, and nine counts each of negligent driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm (while driving in a dangerous manner).

Brett Button leaves Cessnock police station in June after being charged over the bus crash at Greta that killed 10 people. Picture by Jonathan Carroll

The 58-year-old was taking dozens of wedding guests from Wandin Valley Estate to the newlyweds' hometown of Singleton when the bus tipped and slammed into a guard rail at about 11.30pm on June 11.

Many of those on board were members of the Singleton Roosters Australian Rules Football Club.

Mr Button was initially refused bail by police following his arrest, however was granted conditional release when he first appeared before a magistrate at Cessnock Local Court.

The scene of the Greta bus tragedy in June 2023. Picture by Peter Lorimer

Prosecutors opposed bail, arguing Mr Button had taken the roundabout far too quickly and some passengers had told police he said "fasten your seatbelts" before the crash.

Some of the survivors had provided statements about Mr Button's "prolonged" behaviour in the lead-up to the crash, the court was told at the time.

Mr Button has not entered any pleas. He remains on bail.

The matter will be mentioned in Newcastle Local Court again on October 4.

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