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Melbourne car attack: James Gargasoulas guilty of six murders | Melbourne car attack: James Gargasoulas guilty of six murders |
(35 minutes later) | |
An Australian man has been found guilty of murdering six people and injuring 27 others in a vehicle attack in Melbourne. | An Australian man has been found guilty of murdering six people and injuring 27 others in a vehicle attack in Melbourne. |
James Gargasoulas deliberately drove his car into pedestrians along Bourke St in the city centre in January 2017. | James Gargasoulas deliberately drove his car into pedestrians along Bourke St in the city centre in January 2017. |
The 28-year-old had pleaded not guilty to the attack, arguing that he was in drug-induced psychosis at the time. | The 28-year-old had pleaded not guilty to the attack, arguing that he was in drug-induced psychosis at the time. |
A jury rejected his defence on Tuesday after deliberating for less than an hour. | A jury rejected his defence on Tuesday after deliberating for less than an hour. |
The attack claimed the lives of Bhavita Patel, 33, Matthew Si, 33, Yosuke Kanno, 25, Jess Mudie, 22, Thalia Hakin, 10, and three-month-old Zachary Bryant. | |
Bourke St was also the scene of an unrelated stabbing attack on Friday that left one victim dead and two others injured. | Bourke St was also the scene of an unrelated stabbing attack on Friday that left one victim dead and two others injured. |
During his trial in the Supreme Court of Victoria, Gargasoulas apologised for his actions, testifying that he had received a premonition from God directing him to drive into pedestrians. | |
When he was asked if he knew he would kill people, he said: "In a sense, yes." | |
The court was also shown footage of Gargasoulas driving a stolen car which he used to carry out the attack. | |
"There is no issue of identity - the conduct itself is captured on CCTV," prosecutor Kerri Judd QC told the court. | |
Gargasoulas had taken the drug ice, also known as crystal methamphetamine, in the month before the attack and was delusional at the time, the court was told. | |
Justice Mark Weinberg said although Gargasoulas suffered from mental health problems, they could not be used as a defence. | Justice Mark Weinberg said although Gargasoulas suffered from mental health problems, they could not be used as a defence. |
He will be sentenced in a court hearing at a later date. | He will be sentenced in a court hearing at a later date. |