James Gargasoulas, the man accused of killing six people in the Bourke Street rampage in Melbourne, allegedly instructed his brother to feign mental health issues to secure a lighter sentence, a court has heard.
A recording played to the Supreme Court on Wednesday captured Gargasoulas telling his brother Angelo to 'play on mental health issues' and 'tell them you're mentally ill'. The conversation, which took place while Gargasoulas was in jail, also included advice to obtain a medical certificate and present it to the court.
Prosecutors argue the tape demonstrates Gargasoulas had considered arguing his own fitness to stand trial. The court is currently determining whether he is mentally fit to enter a plea on six counts of murder and 28 counts of attempted murder stemming from the January 2017 attack.
Despite the recording, consultant forensic psychiatrist Dr Andrew Carroll testified that Gargasoulas expressed a desire to be found fit so that he would be taken seriously. Dr Carroll also noted that Gargasoulas believed he would be imprisoned for no more than two years and had sent letters to his children claiming they were Tongan royalty.
During the hearing, Gargasoulas appeared to sleep, but he attributed this to exhaustion from medication. The fitness trial is set to continue into its fourth day.
