A driver accused of killing six people during a rampage through Melbourne’s Bourke Street believes God will exonerate him of guilt before a comet strikes earth, the Supreme Court has been told.<\/p>\n
James “Dimitrious” Gargasoulas on Monday faced day one of a hearing before a jury to determine if he is fit to stand trial on six counts of murder and 28 counts of attempted murder over the January 2017 incident.<\/p>\n
Both the defence and prosecution agree Gargasoulas has schizophrenia and suffers delusions, but disagree whether he is fit to stand trial.<\/p>\n
Defence barrister Theo Alexander argued Gargasoulas was unable to meet three criteria required of an accused person facing trial, including his ability to enter a plea, understand the substantial effect of evidence or instruct his lawyer.<\/p>\n
But crown prosecutor Kerri Judd QC argued Gargasoulas was “not consumed by his delusional beliefs”.<\/p>\n
She said he was making a bid to instead be held at Thomas Embling psychiatric hospital, with a possible future release.<\/p>\n
The court was told Gargasoulas had treatment-resistant paranoid schizophrenia with “Messianic delusions”, and acknowledged he had ploughed through pedestrians last year but believed “God made him do it”.<\/p>\n
Forensic psychiatrist Lester Walton told court Gargasoulas was on his sixth antipsychotic medication and was in the early stages of treatment with a “last resort”, potentially life-threatening drug.<\/p>\n
Dr Walton said he believed Gargasoulas was unable to enter a plea due to his delusions, believing “he was acting under divine instruction” when he allegedly drove through pedestrians.<\/p>\n
“‘My mission is to reinstate God’s law, which will redeem myself,'” he quoted from Gargasoulas.<\/p>\n
“I will become king before the end of this court case.<\/p>\n
“If I don’t reinstate God’s law, we are all going to die.”<\/p>\n
Dr Walton said Gargasoulas could not “meaningfully enter a plea”, regarding that as “irrelevant” to his mission.<\/p>\n
“He wants to be recognised as the king. This will happen, apparently, during the course of the trial once a comet arrives,” he said.<\/p>\n
He added Gargasoulas believed that he needed to “have his day in court” to persuade everyone of his world view, “or we will all perish”.<\/p>\n
Dr Walton, who spent about four hours assessing Gargasoulas in custody, said he didn’t believe he was mentally ill, but was a compliant patient.<\/p>\n
Several experts are expected to testify during the fitness hearing, including forensic psychiatrist Andrew Carroll and forensic psychologist Michael Daffern, a prosecution witness, who will argue that Gargasoulas is in fact fit for trial.<\/p>\n
The hearing continues.<\/p>\n
Source\u00a0\u00a09news.com.au<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"