Family members of a young woman run down by Bourke Street killer James Gargasoulas have told him he will “never be forgiven” and that they are plagued by dreams where she visits them but never stays.

Six people were intentionally hit and killed by Gargasoulas on January 20, 2017, as he drove a stolen car while high on ice after hearing voices in his head.

Gargasoulas sped through the pedestrian mall trying to avoid police. His victims included a toddler aged three months and a 10-year-old girl.

He was found guilty of six counts of murder and 27 counts of attempted murder in November.

On the same day Gargasoulas’ lawyers submitted that the 29-year-old should one day walk free from prison, victims finally had their day in court.

Emily Mudie, the twin sister of Jess Mudie, delivered an emotional statement through tears inside the Victorian Supreme Court.

She said her sister, 22, who was killed while visiting her brother in Melbourne, visits her in her dreams, but the aftermath is unbearable.

“I sometimes forget (she died),” she said. “I go to message her about what she’s having for dinner or how her day was.”

Jess’s brother Kurt said he tries desperately to hold on to her in his dreams but she always leaves.

“She can’t stay and has to go back,” he said. “She leaves the same way she did on January 20, 2017.”

Jess’s mother Robyn had a statement read on her behalf. She told Gargasoulas: “You will never be forgiven.”

Gargasoulas’ lawyers used today’s pre-sentencing hearing to submit to the court that their client should not join a short list of Australia’s worst offenders who are locked up and will never be let out.

They wrote that he should not be jailed for the term of his natural life because he was motivated by “a deluded desire to save the world” rather than murderous rage.

“A non-parole period should be fixed,” his lawyers said.

But prosecutors said Gargasoulas should never be free again, citing multiple murders of children, the “serious, reckless conduct” of his actions on the day and his “unenviable criminal record”.

The parents of Japanese student Yosuke Kanno also delivered statements before Gargasoulas, who sat motionless in the dock, dressed in a white shirt.

Kanno, 25, was the first of Gargasoulas’ six victims to die when he was run down outside Royal Arcade. He died instantly.

Kanno’s father, Masayuki, told the court his wife, Minako, cannot walk on footpaths because she is “sensitive to the sound of cars”.

“Both my wife and I regret that we let our son come to Melbourne to study, Mr Kanno said.

“We cannot hold back our anger towards (Gargasoulas).”

Fifty victim impact statements are expected to be read out over the next three days before Gargasoulas is sentenced.

Today was the first time Gargasoulas has had to face his victims’ families. Family members spoke on behalf of Ms Mudie, Mr Kanno and Bhavita Patel, 33.

It’s expected the court will hear from family members of Zachary Bryant, who was killed at just three-months-old, Thalia Hakin, 10, and Matthew Si, 33.

The last time the 28-year-old was in court was in November when a Supreme Court jury found him guilty of six counts of murder and 27 counts of reckless conduct endangering life.

It took the jury less than an hour to return a guilty verdict.

Gargasoulas sat for much of the hearing with his head resting on his arms, face down.

At one point, Justice Mark Weinberg stopped to check he was awake, but was told he was just resting because his medication makes him tired.

Gargasoulas pleaded not guilty to all charges last year, claiming he had permission from God to hit people in the stolen car he was driving.

He said he believed he had lived seven times and in his last life only spent two years in prison before a “comet came and burned us all”.

He believes the same will happen in mid-2020 or people will march on the jail where he’s being held and he will be released.

A pre-trial hearing found Gargasoulas was fit to stand trial despite being diagnosed with treatment-resistant paranoid schizophrenia.

Today’s pre-sentencing hearing began 2.15pm and is expected to carry through to Thursday.

Gargasoulas has been held in solitary confinement in the Spring Unit at the Melbourne Assessment Prison and could join a short list of Australia’s worst killers to be sentenced to life in jail without the possibility of parole.

rohan.smith1@news.com.au | @ro_smith