This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-38713950
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Melbourne car deaths: Bail laws changed in Victoria state | Melbourne car deaths: Bail laws changed in Victoria state |
(about 11 hours later) | |
The Australian state of Victoria has announced changes to its bail laws after five people died when a man drove a car into pedestrians in Melbourne. | The Australian state of Victoria has announced changes to its bail laws after five people died when a man drove a car into pedestrians in Melbourne. |
The allegedly deliberate attack, which police said was not terror-related, happened after lunchtime on Friday. | The allegedly deliberate attack, which police said was not terror-related, happened after lunchtime on Friday. |
Suspect Dimitrious Gargasoulas, 26, was released by a bail justice against the wishes of police five days earlier. | Suspect Dimitrious Gargasoulas, 26, was released by a bail justice against the wishes of police five days earlier. |
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said a new Night Court will be set up for magistrates to hear bail requests. | Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said a new Night Court will be set up for magistrates to hear bail requests. |
Mr Gargasoulas was remanded in custody on Monday after being charged with five counts of murder. He was not in court - his lawyer said he was unwell. | |
Thalia Hakin, 10, Matthew Si, 33, and Jess Mudie, 22, died in the attack. A three-month-old boy and a 25-year-old man, who have not been named, were also among the victims. | Thalia Hakin, 10, Matthew Si, 33, and Jess Mudie, 22, died in the attack. A three-month-old boy and a 25-year-old man, who have not been named, were also among the victims. |
Two others remain in a critical condition, Mr Andrews said on Monday. | Two others remain in a critical condition, Mr Andrews said on Monday. |
"All of us feel it. How could this have happened? How could such a tragedy have come to our city? How could so many lives end and so many lives change forever?" he said. | "All of us feel it. How could this have happened? How could such a tragedy have come to our city? How could so many lives end and so many lives change forever?" he said. |
Wide-ranging review | Wide-ranging review |
The changes mean magistrates will rule on after-hours bail applications for people charged with violent crimes, Mr Andrews said. | The changes mean magistrates will rule on after-hours bail applications for people charged with violent crimes, Mr Andrews said. |
Until now, Victoria has been the only jurisdiction in Australia to use volunteer bail justices rather than on-call magistrates for after-hours hearings. | Until now, Victoria has been the only jurisdiction in Australia to use volunteer bail justices rather than on-call magistrates for after-hours hearings. |
Mr Andrews also said the entire bail system would be reviewed by former Supreme Court of Victoria judge Paul Coghlan. | Mr Andrews also said the entire bail system would be reviewed by former Supreme Court of Victoria judge Paul Coghlan. |
"We need to have a really close look at each and every element of our bail system, and we need to make profound change for the future to keep Victoria safe," Mr Andrews said. | "We need to have a really close look at each and every element of our bail system, and we need to make profound change for the future to keep Victoria safe," Mr Andrews said. |
Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton has expressed frustration about the handling of bail cases. | Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton has expressed frustration about the handling of bail cases. |
"I think everyone that works in the system has issues with it from time to time," he told the Herald Sun newspaper at the weekend. | "I think everyone that works in the system has issues with it from time to time," he told the Herald Sun newspaper at the weekend. |
Police said Mr Gargasoulas, who was shot in the arm by police before his arrest, had been involved in an attack on his brother in a Melbourne suburb earlier on Friday. | |
Hospitals across Melbourne treated 37 people injured in the Bourke St Mall incident. On Monday, 15 were still to be discharged. | |
As Australians mourned the tragedy, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joined Mr Andrews in attending a makeshift memorial set up at the scene. | As Australians mourned the tragedy, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull joined Mr Andrews in attending a makeshift memorial set up at the scene. |
The victims will also be honoured with a public vigil in central Melbourne on Monday night. | The victims will also be honoured with a public vigil in central Melbourne on Monday night. |
Victoria's justice system has faced criticism in recent years following several high-profile cases, including the killings of Irish woman Jill Meagher and young boy Luke Batty. | Victoria's justice system has faced criticism in recent years following several high-profile cases, including the killings of Irish woman Jill Meagher and young boy Luke Batty. |