It seems the jury that convicted Bourke Street killer James Gargasoulas, who was found guilty of 6 counts of murder and 27 counts of reckless conduct endangering life, got it right:
“Prosecutors said Gargasoulas had relevant criminal history of violent offending with nine relevant cases between 2009 and 2014 including five assault charges and four charges of reckless conduct endangering serious injury.
Court documents show he also offended at age 14 when he brought a stick of gelignite onto school property in Coober Pedy.”
Unsurprisingly, the Prosecution says Gargasoulas should be locked up indefinitely:
“In sentencing submissions presented to the Supreme Court today prosecutors claimed Gargasoulas’ crimes represented the worst examples of murder in Victoria…
“Like the unspeakable crimes committed by Martin Bryant at Port Arthur, Bourke Street, Melbourne, will never be the same again,” the submission stated.
In their submission, prosecutors said Justice Mark Weinberg should sentence Gargasoulas to life without parole based on the number of murders, the deaths of two children, his criminal history and the need for deterrence.”
The defence on the other hand is arguing that Gargasoulas’ mental illness resulted in reduced culpability:
“In submissions tendered to the court, the defence said specific deterrence has a limited role because of his condition and a prison term would weigh more on Gargasoulas than other prisoners because he is confined to his cell for 23 hours a day.
The defence also claimed Justice Weinberg should set a non-parole period and said Gargasoulas’ prior offending was more representative of an anti-social pathology fuelled by drug use than an inherently cruel, callous or barbarous.
“In relation to the nature of the offence, whilst deliberate, tragic and destructive, was borne of a deluded desire to ‘save the world’ underscored by the prisoner’s belief that he had lived many lives and if he, or others died, for that purpose, that rebirth was possible (the concept of reduplication of time),” the submission stated.”
Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law, Terrorism
What about the cops and their actions when they pursued his vehicle and forced him to turn into Swanston Street from Flinders Street, Melbourne. Why didn’t they call off the pursuit instead and allow him to leave the area. If they had backed off, he probably would not have turned into a crowded Swanston Street and run down all those pedestrians. Everyone has blamed him for his mental state, yet nobody blames the police for a bungled pursuit that resulted in deaths and tragedy. If the police had called off the pursuit, the chances of this disaster happening may have been avoided, as he would have driven elsewhere and in the end may have handed himself in to police.