A survivor of a Hunter Valley bus crash that claimed ten lives has taken the stand, challenging the driver in court. The survivor, among several others, delivered victim impact statements on the second day of Brett Button's sentencing hearing. Viewer discretion is advised as this story includes images of deceased Indigenous individuals.
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00:00Along with the 10 people who died on the night of the horror bus crash in Greta, another
00:0725 passengers survived.
00:10Drew El Mousali was one of them.
00:13In court today, he addressed the man responsible for the crash, bus driver Brett Button.
00:19When you said, this next part is going to be fun, that was the last time my back and
00:25neck felt normal.
00:26Nothing fun for me.
00:29Mr El Mousali went on to issue a direct challenge.
00:32Your Honour, can you please ask the defendant to look at me.
00:36Your lack of respect reminds me of that night.
00:40You just stood there with your hands in your pockets.
00:43I looked at you as you appeared smug and proud of yourself, of all the people you killed.
00:50In May, Button pleaded guilty to 10 counts of dangerous driving, occasioning death.
00:56He's now spent the last two days listening to dozens of victim impact statements, including
01:02those from survivors Sharon and Jason Junkier.
01:06It didn't feel as if he applied the brakes at all.
01:10I was dragged along bitumen like a cheese grater.
01:14It's a miracle I survived.
01:16Her husband said he was haunted by memories of the night.
01:20A simple sight of a bus can plunge me into flashbacks.
01:24At the end of today's proceedings, Button's barrister told the court his client would
01:28take the stand tomorrow.
01:30It will be the first time Brett Button has spoken publicly and not through his solicitor
01:35about what victims' families and survivors have described as the night that never ends.