Detectives criticised in Bourke Street report turn up to inquest to eyeball top cop - The Age

“No one expected that to happen.”

Lawyer Ben Ihle, representing the detectives, pointed out to Mr Fontana that his 496-page review was created with the aid of "hindsight", something the frontline officers on the day who trailed Gargasoulas in the hours between the stabbing of his brother and the Bourke Street attack did not have.

Detective Senior Constable Murray Gentner arriving at the Coroner's Court in December.Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui

“You’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t?” Mr Ihle asked.

“That's correct. It is very challenging for our members, I acknowledge that,” Mr Fontana replied.

“How long has it been since you’ve been an operational member? Decades?” Mr Ihle asked.

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“I haven't done it for many, many years,” Mr Fontana replied.

The coroner is investigating the circumstances surrounding the deaths of six people Gargasoulas struck in a stolen car as they walked along Bourke Street in Melbourne’s CBD on January 20, 2017.

The inquest heard officers on the ground at times had mere seconds to make critical decisions during the hunt for Gargasoulas, including whether to attend a post-pursuit debrief or continue communicating with the offender as he fled over the West Gate Bridge towards Yarraville about 11.30am that day.

Mr Fontana conceded what was done wasn’t “unreasonable”, but said the intention of his report was to identify gaps.

“The [crime investigators] did know he was a risk, they had their whole office focus on him … they were having a go ... but they just did not stop to think and regroup, which is hence why I made these recommendations.

“I don't agree that certain information shouldn’t have been communicated out into other areas.”

On Wednesday, Mr Fontana told the inquest that St Kilda police officers, who had laid charges against Gargasoulas in the days before the massacre, failed tocreate an adequate arrest plan or raise their concerns up the chain of command.

Mr Fontana will continue giving evidence on Friday.

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