Last Friday, the city of Melbourne was left shocked and devastated after a driver went off road and drove his car into crowds in the CBD’s busy Bourke Street mall.
Matthew Si, 33, Jess Mudie, 21, 10-year-old Thalia Hakin and a three-month-old baby are among the dead in this tragic event, with another 25-year-old man’s name yet to be released to the public.
Amid the hurt, pain and anguish incited by Friday’s tragedy, tributes for the families of those affected continue to pour in.
Members of young Thalia’s Jewish community came together over night to honour the memories of those who lost their lives during this senseless attack.
“It’s a horrific event. It really is,” says State Member for Caulfield David Southwick upon entering the memorial service in St Kilda’s East.
The person accused of this crime is 26-year-old Dimitrious ‘Jimmy’ Gargasoulas – a man who is said to be “well known” to police and, as reported by the ABC, was actually on bail for another crime at the time of the car rampage.
It is this important detail that has caused Victorian leaders to possibly reconsider bail laws in a bid to prevent something like this happening again.
On January 14, Gargasoulas was charged with an undisclosed crime, however, he was granted bail by an after-hours judge against police’s recommendations.
On Sunday, the Government’s Security and Emergency Management Cabinet came together to discuss.
“As a parent, it’s a very sad day today,” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says.
“There can be nothing more innocent than a little three-month-old baby, that’s our focus today, we are sad, we are angry and we are resolute in making the changes that need to be made to learn from this.”
Our thoughts are with the victims and their families during this difficult time.
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