Brett Andrew Button Wiki – Brett Andrew Button Biography
Hunter Valley bus driver Brett Andrew Button, 58, has been pictured for the first time in public since being released on bail on Tuesday.
The 58-year-old was granted strict bail when he fronted Cessnock Local Court over the fatal crash which claimed the lives of 10 people in the NSW Hunter region on Sunday. Mr Button has been charged with 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and one count of negligent driving occasioning death. He could be seen walking out of Cessnock Police Station on Tuesday afternoon, wearing a black jumper with the hood nearly covering his eyes. At one point, Mr Button also appeared to flash the middle finger as his head was bowed while leaving the police station.
The bus driver was handcuffed when he appeared in court on Tuesday morning, where he was supported by his wife and his mother. Mr Button applied for bail after spending the night in custody, following the crash which killed 10 and injured 25 others. Earlier on Tuesday, police prosecutors had opposed bail over their concerns Mr Button may interfere in the crash investigation, which is in its early stages. But Magistrate Robyn Richardson did not agree with their fears, adding the bus driver, who is local to the area, was also “suffering with the rest of the community”. It does appear on the fact sheet before the court to be a strong case in relation to the charges of driving dangerously, occasioning death,” she said. (There is) no doubt Mr Button has sat here in court head bowed. “And it is clear to this court that he suffers … and the court acknowledges the suffering… of the community, their families and friends who have lost loved ones.” His family appeared to let out a sigh of relief, while others wiped tears away. Magistrate Richardson flagged her concerns for Mr Button’s mental health and recognised he had strong ties to the local community he worked in.
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Age
Brett Andrew Button is 58 years old.
Hunter Valley Bus Crash details
The 58-year-old, who already had his licence suspended, has agreed to strict bail conditions which include a curfew time to be at his home between 8 pm and 6 am every day unless accompanied by a person and reporting to police three times a week. He must surrender his passport, cannot be within five kilometres of an international departure point and pay $10,000 if he fails to appear in court. Mr Button’s lawyer told reporters outside the court his client was “happy to go be going home” and he was doing “holding up well” given the tragic circumstances.
Sky News Australia reporter Julia Bradley said the court heard that 10 witnesses had spoken of the bus driver’s alleged “prolonged behaviour” and dangerous driving. Some survivors told how they fastened their seatbelts moments before the crash. The court also heard Mr Button had seven driving offences but no criminal history. He will return to Newcastle Local Court on August 9. Ten people were killed when the bus carrying wedding guests overturned at a roundabout on Wine Country Drive at Greta at about 11.30 pm on Sunday. The guests were on their way back to their accommodation in Singleton when the crash occurred.
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