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Police tailed alleged CBD killer 'for hours' before Bourke Street rampage

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The Victoria Police restrictive pursuit policy will again come under a microscope after police tailed alleged killer Dimitrios "Jimmy" Gargasoulas for hours before the Bourke Street rampage.

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Bourke Street driver appeared on TV hours before pedestrians killed

Hours before horrific scenes unfolded in Melbourne's CBD, the man that police have named as Dimitrious Gargasoulas appeared on live television.

As part of her investigation into the deaths of five people killed over 750 metres from Swanston to west of William Street on Friday, State Coroner Sara Hinchey will probe the police pursuit called-off prior to the deaths.

A decision was made not to chase Mr Gargasoulas through the CBD because of the risk to the public. Instead, he was monitored from the air by the police helicopter with a plan to intercept in a safe spot.

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But police had been tailing Mr Gargasoulas at least two hours before he allegedly mowed down pedestrians, with an eyewitness telling Fairfax Media police were seconds behind him after he almost hit pedestrians on Clarendon Street in Southbank at 11.30am.

Steve Dorogi, a logistics coordinator from Adelaide in town for the Australian Open, said the car came up the tram tracks north on Clarendon Street and swerved through the intersection against a red light.

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He said there were about 10 people crossing the road at the time that had to jump out of the way. He and his two children were only about two metres away.

"He missed all of those people, he skidded and swerved through the intersection and all I can say is all those people he missed were thanking God they were alive," Mr Dorogi said.

"I immediately thought 'This guy is going to kill someone today'. I really did."

He said there was a police van at the intersection, which pedestrians began waving at to get their attention, but four unmarked police cars were already following about 10-15 seconds behind.

"I really feel that more can be done. I'm a bit confused as to why this went for two hours," he said.

"It's a disturbing timeline."

Police tried to pull him over on the Bolte Bridge 15 minutes later, according to the ABC, but the pursuit was called off.

He was also pursued at Yarraville, in Melbourne's west, put police pulled back again because of the erratic and dangerous driving.

Fairfax Media also understands he had been spotted near Chapel Street in Prahran about 10am and he had been on police's radar since he allegedly stabbed his brother in Windsor at 2am.

A high-ranking police officer told Fairfax Media there were deep concerns and widespread confusion among members about when they should engage or abandon potentially dangerous car chases.

"A lot of them feel they are being asked to do their job with one arm tied behind their back. It's easy to be an expert in hindsight, but there's a lot of cops who think more could have been done to stop him getting into the city," the senior officer said.

Mr Gargasoulas was stopped when Operation Response Unit police in a Ford Territory rammed him just past William Street.

It's understood they rammed the Holden Commodore at low speed, front-on after driving up from Spencer Street.

But most of the damage to the front of the crumpled Commodore was caused when he allegedly hit pedestrians, Fairfax Media was told.

The Police Association called for command to again review the policy - pointing to recommendations made 11 months ago - but union secretary Ron Iddles cautioned it was a "damned if you do, damned if you don't" scenario for police on Friday.

"Under the current pursuit policy, you have a car driving down Clarendon Street in South Melbourne at 100 kilometres an hour - and erratically - there's not too many police that would say 'keep pursuing'," he said.

"There are people that will say, this was because of the pursuit policy, but his mother said he was a problem child from day one and he's got mental health issues. The pursuit policy didn't cause that."

Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said on Saturday he was "rock solid" behind the decisions police made while trying to apprehend the driver.

"I am satisfied from my perspective - I emphasise my perspective - all decisions that our officers made were in the interests of trying to provide community safety. I am confident in that," he said.

The pursuit policy was tightened in July 2015 following the deaths of 14 people in pursuits within five years. But the rules came under fire from police, with widespread knowledge of the policy leading to more dangerous driving because offenders knew they weren't going to be pursued, police said.

Police believe that Mr Gargasoulas' was trying to bait them into a pursuit when he begun doing doughnuts on Flinders Street just before he drove down Bourke.

Force command reviewed the policy again last year, but the revised version was kept secret in order to not educate criminals and members said little actually changed.

The coroner had already begun investigating the revised policy before Friday's rampage.

Donations for the immediate families of those killed can be made via the website www.vic.gov.au/bourkestreet.html

For urgent support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Witnesses and victims requiring support can also call the Victim's Support Helpline on 1800 819 817.

A vigil is being planned from 5.30pm on Monday at Federation Square.

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