Two of four charges against a policeman who allegedly drove at 230km/h on a highway north of Melbourne have been dropped.
Leading Senior Constable Bradley Beecroft reportedly travelled at an average speed of 205km/h for eight minutes to attend a crash site involving another policeman on the Hume Highway near Euroa in March 2021.
At Wangaratta Magistrates Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Anna Dearman withdrew the indictable charges of reckless conduct endangering life and reckless conduct endangering serious injury, leaving charges of dangerous driving and speeding to be heard next year.
A highway patrolman and policeman of 16 years, Sen Const Beecroft has not contested driving faster than 200km/h, but his defence lawyer James Anderson said the speeds could be considered reasonable in the circumstances.
Sen Const Bancroft carried the gold class licence, which permits accredited police to travel at unlimited speeds.
"Mr Bancroft was acting in accordance with his training," Mr Anderson said.
"He was trained to drive at unlimited speeds."
No complaint was made by any member of the public in relation to the driving and the officer accompanying Sen Const Beecroft said in a statement he did not believe the driving was unsafe.
Mr Anderson said he requested the Victoria Police training manual in relation to pursuits and urgent duty driving but had so far been refused.
"If police want to say you just can't travel 200km/h, why don't they tell their officers that?"
"Why do they give them an unlimited licence in a car that can go at 305 km/h and then commence a criminal prosecution against them when they drive in accordance with their training?" he said.
Magistrate Peter Dunn said the remaining charges of dangerous driving and speeding would be heard from June 26 to June 29, 2023, pending the results of a contest mention on January 12.
"I urge you all to continue to try to resolve the matter in one way or another," Mr Dunn said.
"Mr Bancroft's life has been placed on hold pending the outcome."
