MELBOURNE: A Gruesome Drive‑by that Stumped the Jokesters of the Law
In a panic‑packed verdict that left the city stunned, a Melbourne court just handed over a 28‑year‑old driver, James Gargasoulas, with a handbag of charges: six murders and reckless recklessness that seen 27 more folks scrambling for covers.
What the Jury Chadwised
- Speed Demon on Bourke Street – In January 2017, Gargasoulas took a reckless joy‑ride through a bustling shopping corridor, turning everyday passers‑by into unintended targets.
- Victims on the Shelf – Among the six casualties were a bare‑faced newborn and a cheeky 10‑year‑old girl.
- Spread of Pain – 27 more people suffered injuries in the mad dash.
Police noted that this wasn’t a headline‑making terror act—just a man with a “criminal past” and a history of domestic violence, who apparently was riding the high of drug‑induced hallucinations.
Australia’s Grim Playlist of Mass Casualties
It’s hard to be the second‑worst mass‑kill scene in the country after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, where a gunman took 35 lives. While the tally here is smaller (six), the shock factor remains thick.
Not the Only Worrying Night on the Block
- Last Week’s Gas‑Truck Terror – Just a block away, a man set fire to a gasoline‑laden truck and stabbed a lone victim before dying of a police shoot‑out. Not a highway‑to-mass‑casualty incident, but still a scary reminder.
- The Name in the Headlines – Hassan Khalif Shire Ali, a 30‑year‑old of Somali origin, was the mastermind. He was allegedly inspired by ISIL chats.
Australia’s chief fear: “lone‑wolf” gunmen. That came to life with the 2014 Sydney café siege that saw two hostages killed after a 17‑hour standoff. Since, authorities have busted a dozen plots, including a Christmas‑season attack plot on Melbourne city centre in 2016.
So while Gargasoulas’ case was deemed not terror‑related, the city can’t help but factor it into the long list of nights Australia’s streets have seen too much. The hope? People staying safe, and courts keeping a sharper eye on those who get out of their own drivers’ headspace.
