'Unwell' Bourke Street rampage suspect charged with murder but fails to front court
The man police say is responsible for the carnage in Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall has been charged with five counts of murder, shortly before hundreds of mourners gathered on Federation Square to remember the victims.
Dimitrious James Gargasoulas was released from hospital on Monday morning and taken by homicide detectives to the Spencer Street Police Headquarters to be questioned over Friday’s atrocity.
Prosecution say they need more time to prepare brief for "complex" Dimitrious Gargasoulas case. Magistrate says has to be heard this year.
— Georgia Main (@georgiamain7) January 23, 2017
After four hours of questioning he was charged with five counts of murder.
But the 26 year old was not in court in the afternoon as those charges were formally laid.
His lawyer told the court that Gargasoulas was unwell and asked for him to be excused from appearing in person.
Gargasoulas remained in the cells beneath the magistrates court as the prosecutor asked for an extended nine month period to compile the brief of evidence, citing the “unprecedented nature of the case”.
Gargasoulas was released from hospital after spending three nights there, receiving treatment for injuries including a bullet wound to his arm sustained during Friday’s arrest.
His lawyer said he would require ongoing medications for the injury.
The case will return to court in August.
