Bourke Street driver Gargasoulas may not face charges for a year

IT could be at least another year before accused Bourke Street killer driver Dimitrious Gargasoulas faces trial over the rampage that claimed six lives.

Dimitrious Gargasoulas may not face charges over the Bourke Street car rampage for another year.

IT could be at least another year before accused Bourke Street killer driver Dimitrious Gargasoulas faces trial over the rampage that claimed six lives.

Gargasoulas, 27, faces five counts of murder and is yet to be charged over the death of a sixth person, but Director of Public Prosecutions John Champion SC on Friday said it’s likely Gargasoulas won’t face a committal hearing until 2018.

“It seems a very long time to me, with all due respect, for all those involved,” Victorian Supreme Court Justice Lex Lasry told a special hearing on the case’s progress.

Police have said they will call more than 900 witnesses as they piece together the January 20 tragedy on one of Melbourne’s busiest streets, in which 37 people were run down.

They said they were working as fast as they can “to expedite the criminal process”, acknowledging the traumatising impact it had on so many people, but there are delays as some people are still struggling or not in a condition to provide statements, with six still in hospital. The last remaining critical patient had her condition downgraded to serious but stable just yesterday.

Gargasoulas shouts out of a car window on Swanston Street in Melbourne. Picture: Tony Gough

Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Fontana said on February 9 that detectives would work around the clock to call the remaining people. “To date we have taken 429 statements and that is statements from members of the community, emergency service workers, including police,” Mr Fontana told reporters, adding that detectives were planning to contact 483 other people who called to provide details that weekend. “Every effort will be made by us to expedite the criminal process.”

A special team has been set up within the homicide squad to deal exclusively with the Bourke Street investigation, working closely with the director of public prosecutions and the coroner.

Police are also reviewing more than 70 videos and pictures that were uploaded on the force’s digital platform after the attack.

They are also trying to find a person who uploaded a screenshot of Gargasoulas’ Facebook page and provided information on his whereabouts in the days leading up to the attack, Mr Fontana said.

Hundreds of witnesses and victims of the rampage have taken up the offer of support from the victims assistance program. It is managing 840 people and 766 have a case manager assigned.

More than 1000 police have also contacted the force’s welfare department for assistance in dealing with the tragedy.

His case is listed for a mention in the Magistrates Court on August 1.