Gargasoulas hearing delayed after authorities fail to get him to court
The investigation hearing that will determine whether Dimitrious Gargasoulas is fit to stand trial over the Bourke Street incident has been delayed after prison authorities failed to deliver him to the court on the opening day of the proceeding.
Mr Gargasoulas has been charged with six counts of murder and 28 charges of attempted murder after a car he was allegedly driving hit dozens of pedestrians in Melbourne's CBD on January 20, 2017.
A jury was set to be empanelled on Tuesday in the Supreme Court to hear a testimony from a number of medical experts about Mr Gargasoulas mental state. The hearing is expected to last until at least the end of the week.
Instead, the matter before Justice Lex Lasry was temporarily stood down because Mr Gargasoulas was not in court.
“Yes, we understand why that is. There was a jail order but Corrections failed to get him here,” Justice Lasry said.
Corrections Victoria has been contacted for comment.
The court was also told by Mr Gargasoulas’ barrister Dr Theo Alexander that a delay was also warranted because one witness was ill, and the defence also wanted additional time to consider some new documents.
The proceeding will resume at 2:15 pm and Mr Gargasoulas is expected to attend.