The ongoing coronial inquest into the Bourke St attack has heard that the volunteer bail justice who gave the green light for James Gargasoulas’ release was not made aware of his detailed criminal history, a claim contested by the police officers present at the bail hearing.
Christos Pantelios presented at Coroners Court of Victoria on Monday and spoke for the first time publicly about his decision as a volunteer bail justice on the case.
The decision granting Gargasoulas bail six days prior to the car rampage, had sparked criticism following the attack and prompted calls for legislative changes to the bail system.
Victoria is the only state where unpaid, volunteer justices, without required qualifications, can act as bail decision-makers.
Mr Pantelios, 58, testified that he had a “mixed bag of memories” about the hearing in question, but denied any recollection of being handed by police a 20-page document with Gargasoulas’ detailed criminal history.
“My mind has been polluted by the media reports after the tragedy,” he said.
During his questioning by police lawyer Rachel Ellyard, Mr Pantelios stated certain the charges were not put in front of him.
“Seeing this person’s criminal history would have certainly altered my decision making,” he said.
But the two police officers present at Gargasoulas’ bail hearing appear to contest Mr Pantelios’ claim.
Although Senior Constable Jake Semmel admitted to ticking six boxes as ‘no’ instead of ‘yes’ by mistake in Gargasoulas’ remand application – stating among others that he was not a safety risk – the police officer said he conveyed his concerns to the bail justice orally.
Also present at the bail hearing, Detective Senior Constable Murray Gentner had testified last week it was not plausible that the bail justice would not have been shown the rap sheet.
READ MORE: Detective is first of 60 witnesses to take stand in Bourke St inquest
Meanwhile, in a statement to police, Detective Gentner had also made allegations that Gargasoulas received favourable treatment, due to being of Greek origin, backing his claim with a reference to a 2016 case when Mr Pantelios granted bail for another accused offender of Greek background.
“I raised my concern with my bosses in relation to the bail justice, and believed that at the very least, the Department of Justice should at least covertly audit the conduct of the bail justice, particularly if the accused was of Greek origin,” read the Detective’s written statement which was tendered to the coroner.
Mr Pantelios admitted he had noted during the hearing Gargasoulas had breached bail conditions eight times, with Ms Ellyard saying that this on is its own should serve as an indication to previous charges.
In his statement three months after the incident, the volunteer bail justice said that Semmel and Gentner appeared to be friendly with Gargasoulas and suggested he was made to believe by all parties that Gargasoulas might have been an informant to police, a claim strenuously denied by the officers.