27-year-old Samandeep Singh is facing charges over the death of an off-duty police officer after the truck he was driving crossed a traffic intersection and hit her motorbike in Melbourne earlier this year.
First Constable D’Arne De Leo was on her way to work when she was hit on January 12 while waiting at an intersection south-east of Melbourne city.
On Tuesday, a motorist told the court Singh- an Indian national- admitted minutes after the crash that he knew his brakes weren’t right, 7 News reported.
Deanna Gray, one of the first to respond among the motorists said Singh told her that he could not slow down in time because of his brakes, reported.
She said Mr Singh told her: "I started trying to brake from about a kilometre away and the truck wasn't slowing down fast enough, I knew the brakes weren't right."
Another witness said the truck went past his vehicle without making any noise and continued into the intersection.
“It was like the truck just glided past me,” Ronald Hosken told police. A driver said he heard a hissing sound like compressed air being released coming from the truck at another intersection before the crash.
But another witness said he believed he heard the truck use its brakes.
Samandeep Singh was driving a truck that hit a police office waiting at a traffic intersection on her bike, resulting in her death in January this year. Source: 7 News
"I heard the sound of what might have been brakes ... I was fixed on [watching] the mirror but I believe I heard braking as well," Paul Hill told the court.
Witnesses said Mr Singh appeared distressed after the crash and was concerned about the Ms De Leo’s wellbeing.
Mr Singh’s committal hearing at Melbourne Magistrates Court is expected to wrap up on Thursday. He is currently on bail and hasn’t yet entered a plea.
