- Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this story may contain images of deceased persons.
NOTHING can bring back the "10 beautiful souls" killed in the Greta wedding bus tragedy, but loved ones have tearfully welcomed the decades-long sentence handed to the man responsible for the crash.
Brett Andrew Button stood silent and shaking in Newcastle District Court on Wednesday as he was ordered to spend 32 years behind bars, with 24 years without parole.
Leoni Bowey lost her niece 22-year-old Kyah McBride, and her sister Nadene McBride, in the coach rollover in the Hunter Valley on the night of June 11 last year.
Speaking outside court after the sentence was handed down, Ms Bowey said she was surprised at the lengthy term.
"I came in not believing very much in the justice system, but the result that they got was tremendous for us," she said, visibly emotional.
"I don't think it will ever be closure because the nightmares will continue.
"It will never bring back my beautiful sister Nadene, it will never bring back my sassy niece Kyah."
She told the media swarm she wanted Nadene and Kyah to be remembered as the loving, kind and caring people they were.
"Our lives have changed forever ... they will always be missed," she said.
Kyah's cousin and Nadene's niece, Ameliah Bowey, said on the steps of the courthouse that all 10 people who died were friends and teammates.
"There's just not enough words to describe the people we've lost other than just gorgeous people, I think that brings it all together," she said.
"We all went into that courtroom knowing that nothing that judge did would bring our loved ones back.
"But, at the very least, I can hope that no one has to sit in that witness chair, ever again, for the same circumstance."
Button's driving was impaired by the opioid prescription painkillers he was dependent on and had taken too much of, he was driving too fast to navigate the roundabout, showing off, and ignoring pleas from passengers to slow down and stop being "crazy" before tragedy struck.
"Addiction is a disease, I'll admit that, but no matter what, he was still responsible for all those lives, for being the one to bring those people home safely," Ameliah said.
She thanked the emergency services, prosecutors, social workers and everyone involved in supporting the grieving families through the hardest of times.
The sentencing on Wednesday afternoon brought a harrowing three-day hearing to an end.
Button, aged 59, will be in his 80s by the time he is eligible for release in 2048, and will be disqualified from driving at that time.
Button has been waiting to find out his fate in custody since he struck a deal in May which saw him plead guilty to 10 counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, nine counts of causing grievous bodily harm; and 16 counts of driving furiously causing bodily harm.
Family of victims, loved ones and survivors filed into the packed courtroom arm-in-arm on Wednesday for the final day of the hearing. They let out cries and said "thank you" when Judge Ellis sentenced Button.
Button was behind the wheel of a charter coach transporting 35 wedding guests from a Hunter Valley estate to the newlywed couple's hometown of Singleton when it rolled on a Wine Country Drive roundabout at about 11.30pm on June 11, 2023.
Ten people lost their lives in the crash; nine people were grievously injured; and 16 others were hurt.
Judge Ellis said he had worked in the legal system for more than half a century, and had been on the district court bench for more than 20 years, but had never come across a case with the same extent of devastation.
Judge Ellis said Button had a duty of care as a professional driver to get the wedding guests home unscathed.
"I am satisfied that his driving demonstrates that he had abandoned his responsibility to ensure the safety of his passengers," he said.
During the sentencing hearing on Monday and Tuesday, one by one, more than 40 grieving family members, survivors and the injured tried to put into words the gravity of their losses and their relentless physical and mental suffering in powerful victim impact statements.
Husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott, Singleton doctor Rebecca Mullen, Angus Craig, Darcy Bulman, mother and daughter Nadene and Kyah McBride, Kane Symons, Zach Bray and AFL Roosterettes captain Tori Cowburn died in the crash.
"Words cannot adequately express the pain, anger, frustration and sadness that permeated the first two days of this sentencing proceeding," Judge Ellis said.
He said the victim impact statements had graphically painted a picture of devastation, with the survivors describing the trauma of their injuries and the "unwanted memories of the carnage" that remained with them.
On Wednesday morning, Button was moved from his glass cage to the witness box to give evidence, his hands and voice shaking as he spoke publicly about the crash for the first time and expressed his deep sorrow at causing the tragedy.
"I've tried to figure out the words to say 'I'm sorry', but how do you say you're sorry for such a horrible, tragic event that has ruined the lives of hundreds of people?" he said through tears.
"I live with this every day, and I hate myself."
- Support is available for those who may be distressed. Phone Lifeline 13 11 14; MensLine 1300 789 978; Kids Helpline 1800 551 800; beyondblue 1300 224 636; 1800-RESPECT 1800 737 732.
