Truck driver who killed four police officers wins appeal
The truck driver that left four police officers dead after crashing a 19-tonne semi-trailer into them has had his jail sentence reduced on appeal.
Mohinder Singh, aged 49 was sleep-deprived and high on drugs when he veered his truck into a service lane on Melbourne’s Eastern Freeway.
He had crashed into Victorian Police officers who at the time had pulled over drive Richard Pusey for speeding in a Porsche.
The 22-year long jail sentence has been cut to 18 years and six months’ jail time before Victoria’s Court of Appeal on the morning of Thursday 25 August.
He was handed a new non-parole period of 14 years and six months, down from the 18-and-a-half sentence that was previously set. The barrister representing the truck driver, Peter Morrissey, argued before the court that the original 22-year jail sentence handed to him in July 2021 was “manifestly excessive”.
Morrisey told the court the sentence did not give enough weight to Singh’s earlier guilty plea, his remorse and psychological disorders. He also argued Singh's non-parole period was too long and that his client had some prospects for rehabilitation.
Singh pleaded guilty to four counts of culpable driving causing death, three counts of drug trafficking and other charges in March 2021 following the horrific crash.
The tragedy claimed the lives of Constable Lynette Taylor, Senior Constable Kevin King, and constables Glen Humphris and Josh Prestney.
Families of the four police officers attended the appeal hearing.
Image: Nine News