Bourke Street deaths: Dimitrious Gargasoulas’ brother shows support

ANGELO Gargasoulas has thrown his support behind his brother, accused of the Bourke St atrocity, as a court heard the alleged killer might not be mentally well enough to face trial.

Dimitrious Gargasoulas has pleaded not guilty over the Bourke Street deaths. Picture: Tony Gough.

THE BROTHER of accused Bourke St killer Dimitrious Gargasoulas has thrown his support behind him.

Angelo Gargasoulas attended the Supreme Court today where his brother faces six counts of murder and 28 charges of attempted murder.

He told a Channel 7 reporter he had been in contact with his brother in jail via letters.

Mr Gargasoulas last week pleaded not guilty to committing the atrocity.

Angelo Gargasoulas — who is himself awaiting sentence over thuggery charges — said he had come to court to support his brother and see how he was doing.

“That’s the only thing I’m more concerned about is pretty much his mental health and how he’s doing,” he said.

“Family is family after all at the end of the day. I’m still trying to take it all on board.”

A jury is likely to decide if Dimitrious Gargasoulas is fit to stand trial over the atrocity.

The matter officially began in the Supreme Court today after the 27-year-old last week pleaded not guilty to six counts of murder and 28 charges of attempted murder.

He is accused of driving through the Melbourne CBD, deliberately striking pedestrians around Bourke and Queen streets as the area teemed with lunchtime crowds, before he was shot and wounded by police.

The court heard there was still a question over whether the alleged killer was mentally fit to even enter a plea, let alone be put on trial.

Early indications from a psychologist suggests Mr Gargasoulas is not mentally fit enough to go on trial.

Dimitrious Gargasoulas before the incident, from his Facebook account.

A second report from a psychiatrist is expected to be complete early next year.

The Director of the Office of Public Prosecutions John Champion SC said more work needed to be done before the court had complete diagnosis.

Mr Champion was critical of the first doctor’s report.

“It’s the first step in the longer journey … it goes too far in opinions it expresses,” he said.

If prosecutors are not satisfied Mr Gargasoulas is unfit to go to trial, the matter will be put before a jury to decide.

Mr Champion said such a trial was unlikely to proceed until May next year.

Justice Lex Lasry asked him to make it happen sooner.

The Office of Public Prosecutions has set up a website to keep victims of the rampage up to date.

A bloated and bearded Mr Gargasoulas appeared in court via video link.

He has also been charged with robbery, false imprisonment, reckless conduct endangering life and making a threat to kill.