Bourke Street rampage ‘not guilty’ plea
The man accused of a car rampage in Bourke Street in January, which killed six people, including a young Jewish girl, faced a directions hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday.
THE man accused of a car rampage in Bourke Street in January, which killed six people, including a young Jewish girl, faced a directions hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday.
Thalia Hakin, 10, a student at Beth Rivkah Ladies College, who was visiting the city with her mother and sister on January 20 this year, died after being struck by a vehicle allegedly driven by Dimitrious Gargasoulas.
Thalia’s mother Nathalie was taken to hospital in a critical condition, later recovering, and Thalia’s sister Maggie, then 9, also survived serious injuries she received during the rampage.
Supreme Court Justice Lex Lasry ordered the matter be returned to court on March 2, amid questions over Gargasoulas’ mental fitness to stand trial, with a psychological assessment already before the court and a psychiatric report being prepared.
Gargasoulas appeared by video link in the Melbourne Magistrates Court last Friday and pleaded not guilty to 39 charges, including six counts of murder, 28 of attempted murder and one of reckless conduct endangering life.
The charges relate to events on January 20, when a car mounted the footpath near Bourke and Queen Streets and struck pedestrians, killing six people and injuring dozens, before Gargasoulas was shot and wounded by police.
He faces further charges relating to offences that allegedly occurred earlier that day.
The Melbourne man waived his right to a pre-trial committal hearing, which meant his case moved directly to the Supreme Court this week.
During last Friday’s Magistrates Court appearance, Gargasoulas responded “not guilty” before magistrate Simon Zebrowski.
In court on Friday, Gargasoulas’ lawyer James Yianoulatos described his client’s fitness to plead and mental impairment as “live issues”.
The prosecution’s brief of evidence includes testimony from some 900 witnesses.
AJN STAFF
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