Richard Pusey, once branded 'Australia's most hated man,' is back in the headlines with a Supreme Court writ against Victoria Police. The multi-millionaire mortgage broker claims that four officers who died after pulling him over in 2020 were responsible for their own deaths.
The Crash and Its Aftermath
On April 22, 2020, during Melbourne's strict COVID-19 lockdowns, Pusey was pulled over on the Eastern Freeway for speeding at 149 km/h in a 100 km/h zone. Officers Glen Humphris, Kevin King, Lynette Taylor, and Joshua Prestney were impounding his Porsche when a truck driven by Mohinder Singh struck them. All four officers died. Pusey filmed the dying officers and made insensitive remarks, including, 'There you go. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. All I wanted to do was go home and have my sushi.'
The Lawsuit
In a statement of claim, Pusey argues that police directed him to stop in an unsafe location and failed to implement adequate safety measures. He claims they exposed him 'to a foreseeable risk of collision.' His legal team asserts that his Porsche, valued at about $450,000, was destroyed, and he suffered a traumatic crash. Pusey also alleges his subsequent arrest was a 'sham' and 'unnecessary.'
Legal History
Pusey pleaded guilty to filming and mocking the dying officers and received a 10-month sentence but was released due to time served. He was later jailed again for unlawful assault and using a carriage service to menace. In 2022, he claimed to be transitioning to a woman while in prison. In 2024, he appeared in court wearing novelty sunglasses, a bow tie, and an 'I Love Elon Musk' T-shirt.
Reactions
Former Victoria Police Commissioner Graham Ashton expressed disgust at Pusey's actions. Stuart Shulze, husband of slain officer Lynette Taylor, refused to comment, saying, 'No oxygen required.' The case is set to go to trial in the coming months, potentially cementing Pusey's reputation as Australia's most hated man.
