James Gargasoulas, accused of murdering pedestrians on Melbourne’s Bourke Street in January, 2017 by running them down with a vehicle, has been found fit to stand for trial.

Despite suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and delusions, after a week-long Supreme Court hearing the jury returned the verdict on Monday that Mr Gargasoulas would go on trial next Wednesday.

During the trial held to determine the accused’s mental state and fitness to stand trial, two psychiatrists and a psychologist gave evidence.

All agreed that Mr Gargasoulas does in fact believe he is the Messiah, and that he is not faking his evident mental illness.

However when it came to whether he met the criteria to be fit to stand trial, opinions were split.

While forensic psychiatrists Andrew Carroll and Lester Walton argued that Mr Gargasoulas was not in the state to enter a plea, give instructions to his lawyers or understand the substantial effect of the evidence, psychologist Michael Daffern thought otherwise.

Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd QC referred to a phone call Mr Gargasoulas made from prison to a welfare worker about his children, which she claimed demonstrated his capacity to think sensibly and make decisions.

“[Mr Gargasoulas] initiated that call, he engaged in a very sensible discussion … he took advice from the worker about how best to engage with his children,” she said.

“It was a call where his delusions did not manifest themselves at all.
“This phone call demonstrates that … the delusions, persistent as they are, do not intrude to such a degree to prevent [Mr Gargasoulas] from acting in a sensible and proper way.”

While in custody, Mr Gagasoulas has been treated for schizophrenia, but the court heard that his illness had been resistant to the six medications he had been prescribed.

Well over a year since the shocking incident took place, Monday’s verdict was welcomed by the victims’ families said Genna Angelowitsch, the lawyer representing them.

“The jury’s decision will mean a resolution to these lengthy proceedings,” she said.

“The families thank the court for bringing on the trial so quickly. It may help to bring some closure.”

Mr Gargasoulas has pleaded not guilty to six counts of murder and 28 counts of attempted murder.