Father of Hunter Valley bus crash victim Zach Bray disgusted manslaughter charges dropped against driver Brett Button
/ By Carly Cook, Giselle Wakatama, and Paul CulliverA father who lost his son in the Hunter Valley bus crash that killed 10 people says he is disgusted manslaughter charges have been dismissed against the bus driver.
In Newcastle local court on Wednesday, driver Brett Button pleaded guilty to 35 charges, including 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death.
The 10 charges of manslaughter he had been facing were withdrawn and dismissed.
Shock for families
Zach Bray, 29, was one of the 10 people on board the bus who died.
His father Adam Bray said he was shocked the more serious charges were dismissed, after families were told five weeks ago that the Director of Public Prosecutions had a strong case.
"To get a call two days ago, sitting overseas, trying to get on with my healing journey, it is disgusting," he said.
"It's not personal ... it's justice. The gravity of the crime that's been committed needs relevant justice to prevail.
"I pity this driver's family. I don't pity him … because he's broken the law and he's taken lives unnecessarily."
'Complex issues', prosecutor says
The crash happened on June 11 last year when the coach, carrying 35 passengers from a nearby wedding, overturned on a roundabout near the township of Greta.
Button, 59, allegedly lost control of the bus and it rolled, skidding along a guard rail.
In a statement, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said: "The decision to accept a plea of guilty involves complex issues of fact and law."
"These decisions are always made after close and careful consideration of the evidence and in accordance with the prosecution guidelines."
Mr Bray said he and the families of the other victims were given a life sentence when the tragedy happened.
"So for us justice is a sentence that is relevant to the gravity of the crime," Mr Bray said.
A charge of dangerous driving occasioning death carries a penalty of up to 10 years in jail, with a reduction of up to 25 per cent for pleading guilty.
But Mr Bray said that was not enough.
"Seven point five years. Do the math on that," he said.
"My son's life holds much greater value than that."
Mr Bray said he would be taking his concerns to the NSW government.
"I subsequently will work with government at a senior level, and put this before the Attorney-General as soon as we can," he said.
Call for reform
Support group Victims of Crime Assistance League said law reform in NSW was needed.
Hunter branch chief executive Sophie Wheeler said families had reached out to the service for support after being told the more serious charges would be dismissed.
"I think that the legal system has failed to appropriately acknowledge the seriousness of the offences," she said.
Ms Wheeler said it would take families some time to process the court proceedings.
"Not only have the families been through such a traumatic experience, they will again go through that re-traumatisation through that court process," she said.
"It's incredibly hard to navigate, which is why it's so important that they are supported, and we can provide that support."
NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley told parliament he would be seeking a full comprehensive briefing from the Director of Public Prosecutions.