Time Bomb: the making of the Bourke St murderer.
“We were driving around and he asked me, ‘would you ever kill someone?’” School friend
James Gargasoulas was a 26-year-old heavy drug user with an extensive criminal record when he drove a car at high speed through central Melbourne killing six people, including a baby boy and a 10-year-old girl.
“He simply looked like he was just going for his Sunday drive on the road, but he was on a pavement, mowing down pedestrians, with no facial expression.” Witness
He was sentenced to life in prison earlier this year for the January 2017 attack. Despite a guilty verdict there are still outstanding questions about why James Gargasoulas was able to carry out such a crime.
“I just don’t understand why they couldn’t stop him. I just don’t understand why he couldn’t be pulled off the streets.” Witness
On Monday, Four Corners investigates how James Gargasoulas was out roaming the suburbs of Melbourne despite facing serious criminal charges and clear warning signs that he presented a grave danger to others.
“He said we’d see him on the news that night.” Witness
In his first media interview, Gargasoulas’ brother Angelo recounts his brother’s extreme violence over many years, beginning with their deeply troubled childhood in outback Coober Pedy. Angelo was both a witness and a victim of his brother’s brutality even in the days and hours before the Bourke St attack.
“I was like, ‘you have to find this guy…There’s so much to lock him up away (for)’.” Brother
Much of the evidence against Gargasoulas has not been seen by the public before. In this painstaking investigation, months in the making, Four Corners reveals troubling failures to catch and hold Gargasoulas.
“(The police) will question everything in their mind. They will wake up at night and say, ‘could I have, should I have, how could I have done things differently?’” Retired Police Commissioner
For those still coming to terms with Gargasoulas’ actions, they wonder if the lessons of his case have been learned.
“Systemic failure is an understatement.” Brother
Time Bomb, reported by Louise Milligan, goes to air on Monday 10th June at 8.30pm. It is replayed on Tuesday 11th June at 1.00pm and Wednesday 12th at 11.20pm. It can also be seen on ABC NEWS channel on Saturday at 8.10pm AEST, ABC iview and at abc.net.au/4corners.
FOUR CORNERS – Monday 10th June 2019 at 8:30pm
