Killer ‘hopes for release’

A MAN who allegedly killed six pedestrians in Melbourne’s Bourke Street hopes he will eventually be released into the community, a Supreme Court hearing has been told.

The case of James “Dimitrious” Gargasoulas is before a jury to determine if he is fit to stand trial on six counts of murder and 28 counts of attempted murder.

Gargasoulas’ legal team is arguing he is unfit to stand trial due to his treatment-resistant paranoid schizophrenia and delusional beliefs.

Defence witness, forensic psychiatrist Lester Walton told the court Gargasoulas (above) believed he would become king before the end of a trial and that a comet would hit earth, causing everyone to perish unless he could persuade others of his world view.

But crown prosecutor Kerri Judd QC argued Gargasoulas was capable of rational thought and wanted to be held at Thomas Embling psychiatric hospital rather than in jail.

She referred to a call Gargasoulas made to his father from prison, in which he incorrectly stated: “They reckon if I get found mentally impaired, I’ll be out in five years.”

Ms Judd said it was Gargasoulas’ belief that if he was transferred to Thomas Embling, he might eventually be “released into the community”.

She also referred to a phone call he made to his mother in which he said he’d had a “mental breakdown”, but “if I play my cards right, it will be alright”. The hearing continues.