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Melbourne car attack: James Gargasoulas guilty of six murders Melbourne car attack: James Gargasoulas guilty of six murders
(about 1 hour 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. He said 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 after deliberating for less than an hour on Tuesday.
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.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. Relatives of the victims wiped away tears as the word "guilty" was read out 33 times in the Supreme Court of Victoria, local media reported.
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. Last week, Bourke St was the scene of an unrelated stabbing attack that left one victim dead and two others injured.
When he was asked if he knew he would kill people, he said: "In a sense, yes." Premonition claim
The court was also shown footage of Gargasoulas driving a stolen car which he used to carry out the attack. The jury was shown graphic footage of Gargasoulas, also known by the name Dimitrious, carrying out the attack in the popular shopping area.
"There is no issue of identity - the conduct itself is captured on CCTV," prosecutor Kerri Judd QC told the court. Other footage showed him driving erratically beforehand, as dozens of bystanders watched on.
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. During the trial, Gargasoulas testified that he had received a premonition from God directing him to drive into pedestrians.
Justice Mark Weinberg said although Gargasoulas suffered from mental health problems, they could not be used as a defence. When asked whether he knew he would kill people, he said: "In a sense, yes."
He will be sentenced in a court hearing at a later date. Gargasoulas had taken the drug ice, also known as crystal methamphetamine, in the month before the attack, the court was told.
Prosecutor Kerri Judd QC told the court: "[It] is the clearest case of criminal liability that you will ever come across."
Lives 'shattered'
In a joint statement, relatives of five of the victims welcomed the guilty verdict.
"His callous actions on that day shattered the lives of the family and friends whose loved ones he stole," they said.
"The families of the victims are grateful to all those whose hard work secured today's outcome, and for the ongoing support they have received during this difficult time."
He will be sentenced at a later date.
The state of Victoria toughened its bail laws in response to the attack, after it was found that Gargasoulas had previously been released from custody against the wishes of police.