Hunter Valley bus crash survivor Nick Dinakis confronts driver in court

·

Nick Dinakis, the survivor of a horrific wedding bus crash in the Hunter Valley 15 months ago which killed 10 including his partner Darcy Bulman, told a court on Monday, September 9 how he will never forgive the driver Brett Button.

On June 11, 2023, Button drove 35 guests 15 minutes home to Singleton after they had celebrated the wedding of their friends Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell at Wandin Valley Estate. Passengers told him to slow down and that they were afraid, before the bus rolled on a roundabout about 11.30pm near Greta. It was later revealed he was addicted to opioids.

59-year-old Button pleaded guilty to 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death following the horror crash, which also injured 25 passengers.

Reading from a statement on Monday during an expected three-day sentence hearing for Button, Dinakis said he was a broken man.

Nick Dinakis and his partner Darcy Bulman. Picture: Instagram.

Dinakis planned to propose to Darcy on a long-awaited trip to Europe this year. He was on the bus, breaking his neck and suffering a brain injury which he may never recover from.

“You killed her. You took away her opportunity to become the one thing she always dreamt of – a mother. We both came from broken families and together we had created our own… You killed my family, the future mother of my children, my future wife, my best friend,” Dinakis said in court.

He spoke of how his career had been ruined, that he was now unable to work at the “top of my game” and suffered from crippling anxiety which stopped him being in public or social settings.

“My life is no longer for living but more about survival,” Dinakis said.

The victim impact statements will continue over the coming two days, with the Crown and defence to argue their cases before the sentence is expected to be handed down on Wednesday.

Source: Nine News.

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Historic ties remembered as Greece’s Evzones march in Adelaide’s ANZAC Day parade

During a Dawn Service at West Torrens on Friday, April 25, the Evzones stood guard alongside Australian army battalion in remembrance.

Greek glamour meets Aussie pop: Inside the colourful universe of Stavroula Adameitis

Adelaide-born designer Stavroula Adameitis is a creator of bespoke pieces that she describes as ‘wearable art.’

Melbourne seminar to focus on the odyssey of Michel ‘Pablo’ Raptis

Michel Pablo was a twentieth century revolutionary whose life and ideas remain relevant and inspirational until today.

Lawyer Greg Masselos warns NSW workers’ comp changes could devastate frontline workers

Greg Masselos has warned that proposed changes by the NSW government to raise the threshold for claims could have devastating consequences.

Niki Louca shares how to make Focaccia Bread

Niki Louca from My Greek Kitchen shares her favourite recipe for pita bread with The Greek Herald. You can follow her on Instagram.

You May Also Like

Lonely Greek parents in lockdown share Christmas table with portraits of their children

Dimitris and Tassoula Kletsas from Greece had Christmas lunch with life-size portraits of their children this year.

Ambassador Arthur Spyrou meets with officials in Lemnos to discuss Remembrance Trail

Australian Ambassador to Greece, Arthur Spyrou, paid a visit to the Greek island of Lemnos and spoke about the Remembrance Trail.

Kostas Karamanlis will not take part in Greece’s upcoming general elections

Former conservative Prime Minister of Greece, Kostas Karamanlis announced on Tuesday that he will not take part in next general elections.