Dimitrious Gargasoulas pleads not guilty to Bourke St massacre charges
THE man charged over the horrific Bourke St massacre has formally pleaded not guilty to all charges.
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THE man charged over the horrific Bourke St massacre has formally pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Dimitrious Gargasoulas, 27, appeared at the Melbourne Magistrates Court via videolink today where, for the first time, he was asked to enter a formal plea.
He pleaded not guilty to six counts of murder, 28 counts of attempted murder, and five other charges over the January 20 rampage.
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It’s alleged Mr Gargasoulas mowed down dozens of pedestrians in the busy retail strip, killing a baby boy, a schoolgirl and four other people as shoppers ran for cover.
Unlike previous court appearances that have sparked verbal outbursts from Mr Gargasoulas, today he sat quietly for the brief hearing.
He answered “yes sir” when asked if he understood the nature of the charges he was facing, and thanked magistrate Simon Zebrowski at the conclusion of the hearing.
The case has been fast tracked and will go directly to the Supreme Court on Monday without a customary preliminary hearing before a magistrate.
Supreme Court judge Justice Lex Lasry has monitored the cases progress and encouraged prosecutors to move swiftly.
A decision on Mr Gargasoulas’ mental capacity was expected to be made this week.
Under Victorian law a mental impairment defence is established if at the time of offending an accused was suffering from a mental impairment that caused them to not know what they were doing was wrong.
Accused found not guilty by way of mental impairment are generally placed in psychiatric hospitals rather than prisons.
A police brief of evidence prepared for the case has exceeded 6500 pages and includes statements from 900 witnesses.
Mr Gargasoulas, originally from South Australia, has protested his innocence since his first court appearance in April when he claimed: “I am the saviour”.
He will return to court on Monday.