James ‘Dimitrious’ Gargasoulas had ‘permission’ from God to run people over: court
Accused Bourke St rampage driver James “Dimitrious” Gargasoulas has told a court “judgement day was coming”, as he took to the stand today.
Law & Order
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James “Dimitrious” Gargasoulas has apologised for the first time as he took to the stand to explain why he mowed down pedestrians, killing six people, in last year’s Bourke St rampage.
“I apologise from my heart,” Mr Gargasoulas told the Supreme Court jury.
“But that’s not going to fix anything if I say sorry. Neither will a lengthy sentence fix what I’ve done.”
Mr Gargasoulas then went on to say the death penalty should be reinstated.
It was the only statements that appeared to make sense during the 20 minutes he gave evidence, which had to be stopped by the Supreme Court trial judge Mark Weinberg several times.
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Mr Gargasoulas explained how he was on a mission that day to go to Sydney to “reinstate God’s royal laws of liberty”.
Often appearing confused, and asking his lawyer Theo Alexander to repeat questions, he said God gave him permission that day to run people over, but not kill them, to escape police.
“I wasn’t intending to kill anyone,” he said. “Judgement day was coming. I knew a comet was coming.
“I had permission to run people over. I had more of a vision. There were more than five people in that vision.”
Asked if he accepts that he drove that day and killed six people and injured 27 more, he said: “Yes.”
Asked why he did it? “That’s still a question to ask God.”
As Mr Gargasoulas started talking about the Koran and how it is against oppression, Justice Weinberg interjected: “This is getting a little remote.”
Earlier the court heard Mr Gargasoulas had told detectives he had his reasons for doing a “f——- up thing” in the minutes after he drove through Bourke St at speed, killing six people and injuring dozens more.
A Supreme Court jury was told today how Mr Gargasoulas, 28, travelling in an ambulance to hospital with Homicide detective Sol Solomon after last year’s January 20 onslaught, admitted his actions.
“I know I’ve done wrong. That was a f—— up thing,” Mr Gargasoulas said.
“I did this for an important reason. No-one would listen to me. They think I’m crazy. I’m not mentally unstable.”
When Detective-Sergeant Solomon asked him why he did it, he replied: “It’s a very long story and I’ll tell you when I get to hospital and have a drink.”
“Do you know you’ve hurt a lot of people?” the detective asked.
Mr Gargasoulas replied: “Let me have a drink and I’ll tell you all about it.”
Giving evidence in the trial, Det-Sgt Solomon said Mr Gargasoulas was “quietly spoken, calm and coherent” at all times.
They arrived at The Alfred hospital at 3.20pm where the accused killer underwent treatment for a bullet wound to his right shoulder, received during his arrest.
But he never ended up giving his reasons, choosing to give a no comment interview when he was discharged from hospital and interviewed on January 23.
During the interview, the court heard, he chose to lie on the ground, refusing requests to sit in a chair.
The jury of 13 people — six men and seven women — were directed at the start of the today to focus on the evidence in the case and not draw any inferences to Friday’s terror attack by Hassan Khalif Shire Ali in Bourke St.
“The terrible events that occurred in Melbourne on Friday have absolutely nothing to do with this case,” Justice Mark Weinberg said.
“Any suggestions in the media over the weekend they are possibly linked are simply not true.”
The jury has today had the gruelling task of watching frame-by-frame footage of each victim being struck.
Some jurors gasped, while others wiped away tears, as the confronting footage was played.
Those killed in the rampage were three-month-old Zachary Matthew-Bryant, 10-year-old schoolgirl Thalia Hakin, Bhavita Patel, 33, Jessica Mudie, 22, Yosuke Kanno, 25, and Matthew Si, 33.
Mr Gargasoulas has pleaded not guilty to six counts of murder and 27 of reckless conduct endangering life.
The trial continues.