A driver accused of endangering lives in Melbourne's CBD will remain behind bars, after allegedly telling police he was inspired by Bourke Street Mall killer James Gargasoulas.
Blayze Pemberton-Burden was cleared by a mental health assessment on Tuesday after allegedly driving his Mazda sedan to the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old is accused of standing on the roof of the car and yelling "no one can stop me" before doing a burnout in the intersection as pedestrians had right of way, continuing down Flinders St and running a red right.
Police say pedestrians feared they could be killed before Pemberton-Burden was arrested when his car broke down at the William Street intersection.
He was refused bail after representing himself in the Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday, charged with reckless conduct endangering life, and dangerous and careless driving.
He allegedly told police he got his tactics from Gargasoulas.
"The accused stated he wanted to get a message out that he had got his tactics from Dimitrious (James) Gargasoulas and the Bourke Street incident," prosecutor Jakeb Cheney told the court.
Victoria Police question the alleged driver on the side of the road. Source: Twitter/jkmccrann
In January 2017, Gargasoulas drove a car in circles at the intersection of Flinders and Swanston streets before taking the car through the Bourke Street mall, killing six people and injuring another 27.
The day before Pemberton-Burden's arrest in Melbourne's CBD, police say the IT consultant drove to his workplace before being taken to Box Hill Hospital because of concerns for his mental health.
A subsequent psychological report suggested the 26-year-old had an undiagnosed delusional disorder and also expressed concerns about his behaviour escalating if allowed back into the community.
In recent days, police said Pemberton-Burden tweeted: "I don't come for peace, I come for war, Buddhism terrorism" and "I'll break every rule in the book, I'll make the holocaust look like a walk in the park, I'll make Tiananmen Square look like child's play".
Magistrate Andrew McKenna refused bail and ordered the man be assessed again "to determine the root of this unusually excessive and aggressive behaviour".
He is due to return to court next Friday.
Readers seeking support with mental health can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. More information is available at Beyond Blue.org.au
