Bourke St massacre: Dimitrious Gargasoulas pleads not guilty
THE man accused of the rampage on Bourke Street that killed six people has entered a plea to the charges.
A MAN charged over the deaths of six people during Melbourne’s Bourke Street rampage has formally pleaded not guilty.
Dimitrious Gargasoulas, 27, appeared before Melbourne Magistrates Court via videolink on today for a committal mention.
Gargasoulas is facing six counts of murder and 28 charges of attempted murder after a car mowed down pedestrians in Melbourne on January 20. 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.
Gargasoulas also waived his right to a pre-trial committal hearing, so his case will go straight to the Victorian Supreme Court.
Defence lawyer James Yianoulatos said his client’s fitness to plead and mental impairment were “live issues”.
Gargasoulas said no more than 10 words when magistrate Simon Zebrowski asked him to confirm his identity and whether he understood the charges.
He also faces charges of reckless conduct, endangering life, intentionally causing serious injury, robbery, and making a threat to kill.
Gargasoulas will remain in custody and appear before the Supreme Court for a directions hearing on Monday.