The man accused of deliberately driving a car into pedestrians on Flinders Street in Melbourne's CBD, killing one man and injuring 17 others, will have a psychiatric assessment to determine if he is fit to stand trial, a court has been told.
Saeed Noori, 33, is facing one charge of murder and 18 counts of attempted murder for allegedly driving his car into pedestrians crossing at the busy intersection of Flinders and Elizabeth streets last December.
He is also facing other charges including reckless conduct endangering life.
Defence lawyer Chen Yang told a brief hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court that Mr Noori will have a psychiatric assessment next week to determine his fitness to stand trial.
Mr Yang said the medical expert will also assess whether Mr Noori had a defence of mental impairment and would inform how the case proceeds.
"Given the materials provided, especially the clinical notes and some of the observations in the hospital after the incident, I think the psychiatric assessment is necessary," he said.
Mr Noori appeared in court flanked by four SESG guards, the state's most highly-trained corrections guards.
Homicide squad detectives added a murder charge in January following the death of 83-year-old Antonios Crocaris.
The Northcote man died of his injuries in hospital.
Mr Noori was remanded in custody to return to court in July.
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