A volunteer bail justice has stepped down after a man he bailed went on to allegedly drive into crowds in central Melbourne on Friday, killing five people.
A Victorian government spokeswoman said the volunteer had removed himself from the bail justice roster and was “deeply distressed” after the tragedy. The Department of Justice was offering counselling and support to the man, the spokeswoman said.
Dimitrious Gargasoulas, 26, was bailed against police advice five days before he allegedly drove into crowds on Bourke Street. Five people were killed and 30 were injured.
The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews on Monday, announced an overhaul of the state’s bail laws, including requiring that all bail applications on serious matters and those opposed by police are heard by a magistrate.
On Wednesday afternoon a funeral procession was held for one of the victims of the tragedy, 10-year-old Thalia Hakin, whose younger sister and mother were injured.
“Thalia copped the full brunt of it,” her father, Tony Hakin, told the crowd. “From the day she was born until the day she died, that girl gave me pride and gave me joy.”
He said his wife wanted to be at the funeral but had only awoken in hospital early on Wednesday morning.
A service was held for another of the victims, three-month-old baby Zachary Bryant, on Tuesday.
Eighteen people remain in hospital, two of them listed as critical.
