The driver responsible for the deadly NSW Hunter Valley bus crash has pleaded guilty to a string of dangerous driving charges.
But Brett Andrew Button, 59, had all 10 of his manslaughter charges withdrawn when he faced Newcastle Local Court on Tuesday as he admitted lesser charges over the June 2023 smash that killed 10 people and injured dozens more.
In a deal struck with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to 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.
Driver Brett Button (pictured) has pleaded guilty over a bus crash in the NSW Hunter Valley that left 10 people dead and many more injure
Ten wedding guests were killed in the crash. They included Rebecca Mullen, Zach Bray Angus Craig, Tori Cowburn, Nadene and Kyah McBride, Kane Symons, Andrew and Lynan Scott, and Darcy Bulman
Earlier, prosecutors said they would apply to detain Button in custody, a move that defence lawyers flagged they would not oppose.
He was not required to enter pleas to back-up charges including negligent driving causing death.
Another 25 charges of causing bodily harm by misconduct were withdrawn.
Button arrived at court flanked by a pack of around a dozen supporters.
He did not say anything to a large group of waiting media.
Button was arrested after losing control of a bus carrying wedding guests from the Wandin Valley Estate to Singleton about 11.30pm on June 11.
The bus rolled onto its side after hitting a guard rail.
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’.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has declined to comment on the reason for the manslaughter charges being withdrawn.
Button had been on bail after initially being granted release due to mental health and wellbeing concerns should he be kept in custody.
The bus rolled onto its side after Button lost control while carrying wedding guests
Families slam ‘betrayal’
Matt Mullen, the father of Rebecca Mullen who died in the crash, issued a plea to the Director of Public Prosecutions to go through with the original counts of manslaughter, which were included in 89 charges Button was to face.
‘I begged them, we are still waiting now in the process hoping that they will reconsider,’ Mr Mullen told 7News.
‘It is a tattoo on our hearts that we are going to have to carry the rest of our lives forever.’
His wife Leanne said the news of downgraded charges, which the families were told of only 36 hours before Button’s hearing, had been devastating.
‘As a a mum to be able to hold her while she was still warm, to hold her hand, to kiss her on the forehead to tell her the things I needed to say that was denied because it was a crime scene,’ she said.
‘But now that seem to me that those sacrifices by me as a mum have been disrespected.’
Montana Bray, whose 30-year-old brother Zach Bray died in the crash, said the news hit her hard.
‘I feel disrespected and I feel like they’re trying to move things quickly and quietly,’ she said.
‘The 10 people who did die on that bus deserve more than this.’
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