Porsche driver Richard Pusey’s attempt to have convicted murderers, prison officers and police give evidence to ‘paint a picture’ of why they should be released on bail has been rejected.
The 43-year-old, who uses they/them pronouns, has been charged with twice using a carriage service to harass by posting online graphic images online from the 2020 Eastern Freeway crash that killed four police officers.
Pusey asked the Victorian Supreme Court to consider 60 subpoenas, requesting people give evidence or submit documents to assist in their bail application.
This included a request for Greg Davies, who is serving a 28-year sentence for murder, and Scott Murdoch, who died in prison last year.
Pusey wanted Davies to speak on behalf of their bail application as ‘a representation of what jails are for’, the court heard on Thursday.
Eleven prison officers were called on, as Pusey said some would give evidence they were ‘respectful, appreciative, caring’ while in custody.
Pusey also wanted more than a dozen police officers to give evidence, as well as former neighbours and acquaintances.
‘If you give me the paints, I’ll paint the picture,’ Pusey told the court.
Justice Lesley Taylor rejected most of Pusey’s subpoenas, as they were not relevant to the application for bail.
‘The bail application is limited, it is not the forum to explore issues you have with Victoria Police or other people,’ she said.
However, she granted Pusey’s request to have a woman give evidence about where they would live if granted bail and allowed them to request access to two prison phone call transcripts.
The fresh attempt at release comes after Pusey was denied bail by Sunshine Magistrates Court last month.
Police officers were stopped on the side of the freeway after pulling Pusey over for speeding in April 2020, when four of them were struck by a truck.
Pusey allegedly sent an email to the Australian Financial Complaints Authority with a graphic image from the crash attached, and another photo to a review on the Porsche Centre Melbourne web page.
They’re also accused of breaking the law while out on bond.
They face a year in prison for each offence if convicted.
The case was postponed until June 14, when a decision on Pusey’s bail application would be made.