Brett Button, who crashed a wedding bus in the Hunter killing 10 people, pleads guilty to multiple charges
Brett Button was surrounded by supporters as he entered Newcastle Local Court. (ABC Newcastle: Bridget Murphy)
A bus driver charged over a fatal crash in the New South Wales Hunter Valley has pleaded guilty to multiple offences, while charges of manslaughter have been withdrawn.
Brett Andrew Button, 59, was charged with a total of 89 offences over the crash at Greta in June 2023 which killed 10 people and injured 25 others who were returning home from a wedding.
In Newcastle local court today, Button pleaded guilty to 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and nine counts of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm.
He also pleaded guilty to 16 related offences of driving furiously and causing bodily harm to survivors.
The court heard 10 charges of manslaughter were withdrawn and dismissed.
A further 25 charges of bodily harm by misconduct were also dropped.
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.
Mr Button allegedly lost control of the bus, which was taking guests from the Wandin Valley Estate to Singleton.
The bus rolled and skidded along a guard rail.
Families emotional in court
Family members of the victims packed the courtroom to watch as Button responded to every charge as they were read out by magistrate Caleb Franklin.
Button sobbed and clasped his hands together while in a soft voice entered the guilty pleas.
Family members were heard sobbing in the court as the victims’ names were read out with the charges, including when the manslaughter charges were withdrawn.
Button’s bail was revoked, and following the proceedings he spent some final moments with family before he was taken into custody.
The victims’ families were visibly emotional when they left the court and chose not to speak to waiting media.
The matter has been adjourned to the District Court in later months when a sentence date will be set.