Charges dropped for Hunter Valley bus driver
The driver responsible for the Hunter Valley bus crash that claimed the lives of 10 people has had major charges dropped as he faced court.
Brett Andrew Button, 59, faced Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday, as all 10 manslaughter charges were dropped as part of a deal struck with prosecutors.
As part of the deal, Button pled guilty to a string of other charges, including 10 counts of dangerous driving causing death, nine counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm and 16 counts of furious driving causing bodily harm.
Another 25 charges of causing bodily harm by misconduct were also withdrawn.
He was not yet required to enter pleas to back-up charges including negligent driving causing death.
Since his first arrest, Button had been on bail after initially being granted release due to mental health and wellbeing concerns should he be kept in custody.
However, he has now been remanded into custody on remand to await sentencing.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) declined to comment on the reason for the manslaughter charges being withdrawn.
Mr Button was arrested after allegedly losing control of a bus that was transporting 35 wedding guests to a reception in the NSW Hunter Valley.
The bus rolled over at a roundabout near Greta, killing 10 people and injuring 25 others.
Mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride, Kyah’s boyfriend Kane Symons, husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott, Zach Bray, Angus Craig, Darcy Bulman, Tori Cowburn and Rebecca Mullen all died in the impact.
Button has previously apologised for the incident, telling reporters outside court in March he was “devastated by what has occurred” and that he was “truly and deeply sorry”.
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