A truck driver who killed four police officers on a Melbourne freeway has denied trying to shift the blame by claiming his boss knew he was overtired and helped him to "cast out" a witch's spell.
Mohinder Singh was high on drugs and sleep deprived when he ploughed into the officers on the Eastern Freeway on April 22 last year.
Singh on Wednesday faced Melbourne Magistrates Court to give evidence during the committal hearing of his former boss, Connect Logistics manager Simiona Tuteru, who has been charged with manslaughter over the fatality.
In a police statement dated May 4, released in court, Singh said he met with Tuteru, whom he knew as "Simon", about three hours before the collision and told him he had been "cursed by a witch" and was "seeing things".
Singh told police his boss said they should look in his car to see if the witch had "left anything behind".
"Simon told me that sometimes witches leave behind voodoo dolls or hair," Singh said in his statement.
"We were looking for something that wasn't mine. While we were doing this Simon talked to me about witches and curses and how they worked."
In April Singh was jailed for up to 22 years after admitting culpable driving causing the deaths of Senior Constables Lynette Taylor and Kevin King, and constables Glen Humphris and Josh Prestney.
Tuteru is accused of directing or requiring Singh to work while he was fatigued and multiple breaches of heavy vehicle regulations.
In his statement, Singh said Tuteru placed his hand on his head and prayed after they failed to find anything in the car.
"I don't remember the exact words of the prayer but I do remember at the end of it he said: 'In Jesus' name I cast the spell out of you'," Singh told police.
"I also remember while we were searching the car he said that he had experiences with witches in Africa and this is where he learnt how witches work.
"After he prayed on me he then said: 'OK you are right to go now ... I just need you to do the load to Thomastown and then you can come back - see how you are feeling and go home'."
Singh also told police he spoke to Tuteru on the phone after the crash and told him he killed the officers.
"He replied with something like 'Don't say nothing to no one'," Singh said in his police statement.
The former truck driver claims he told Tuteru that he was sleep-deprived and unfit to drive.
Tuteru's barrister, David Hallowes SC, then asked him: "Have you ever tried to shift the blame for this collision to your boss?"
Singh said "no".
Mr Hallowes argued Singh is not a credible witness due to inconsistencies in his evidence.
Magistrate Luisa Bazzani will hand down her decision on whether Tuteru stands trial on Thursday.
