Bourke Street driver James Gargasoulas has been found guilty of murdering six pedestrians and recklessly injuring another 27 when he sped along a footpath in Melbourne's CBD last year.

Key points: Gargasoulas' lawyer conceded during his trial he had no defence to the charges

Gargasoulas' lawyer conceded during his trial he had no defence to the charges He will be back in court on January 29 for a plea hearing

He will be back in court on January 29 for a plea hearing Victims' families said his "callous" actions shattered many lives

The jury deliberated for just 57 minutes before returning the verdict, ending a trial in the Victorian Supreme Court which lasted less than a week.

Gargasoulas jiggled his knee in the dock as the verdict was read out, but did not react as "guilty" was delivered in response to each charge.

Some victims and family members of those killed were in court. Many wiped their eyes as the names of their loved one were read out.

James Gargasoulas pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted murder. ( AAP )

The families of five victims, who are being represented by Adviceline Injury Lawyers, released a statement welcoming the verdict.

"[Gargasoulas'] callous actions on that day shattered the lives of the family and friends whose loved ones he stole," it said.

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"The families of the victims are grateful to all those whose hard work secured today's outcome, and for the ongoing support they have received during this difficult time," the legal firm's senior associate Genna Angelowitsch said.

"They appreciate the continued respect of their privacy as they prepare for the sentencing process."

Gargasoulas will be back in court on January 29 next year for a plea hearing.

Ten-year-old Thalia Hakin was among the victims honoured in tributes after the attack. ( ABC News: Patrick Rocca )

Trial told of witnesses' trauma

Conclusive CCTV evidence had been played during Gargasoulas' trial, showing his victims in their final moments, walking along the footpath, oblivious to the car coming behind them.

They were then hit by the car, with one victim, three-month-old boy Zachary Matthew-Bryant, landing 68 metres from where he was struck.

He was one of six people killed. The others were Yosuke Kanno, 25, Bhavita Patel, 33, Jess Mudie, 22, Matthew Si, 33, and Thalia Hakin, 10.

The court was told the 28-year-old was driving at speeds of more than 60 kilometres per hour, and had not stopped driving even when a pram he hit became lodged in the car's windscreen.

Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd QC closed the prosecution case by telling the jury it was the "clearest case of criminal liability that you will ever come across".

"There is no issue of identity, the conduct itself is captured on CCTV … there is no positive defence available," she said.

Scores of emergency service workers were called to the CBD after the rampage. ( ABC News: Margaret Burin )

During the trial, witnesses gave evidence of Gargasoulas' composure as he accelerated down the footpath, with both hands on the steering wheel, during the busy lunchtime period on January 20, 2017.

Solicitor Joshua Baldacchino told the court he was walking back to his office when he saw people running and screaming to get out of the way as the car ploughed through pedestrians.

Matthew Si, 33, was among the victims. ( Supplied: Victoria Police )

"The car hit them just like it would an insect — thud, thud, thud, thud," Mr Baldacchino said

Banker Aaron Jensen was further up Bourke Street when he saw the car driving up the footpath.

He told the court he could still remember the desperation in the eyes of a man who had tried to jump out of the way but had been clipped by the car and ricocheted back onto the bonnet.

Gargasoulas claims divine premonition

Gargasoulas pleaded not guilty but admitted he had been the driver, caused the deaths and injuries of 33 pedestrians, and was in a drug-induced psychosis at the time, which did not amount to a defence.

At the outset of the trial, his defence barrister Theo Alexander told the jury Gargasoulas would give evidence about his "very important reason" for committing the attack.

Teddies and flowers were placed on a stage at Federation Square during a vigil for the victims after the attack. ( ABC News: Margaret Burin )

"Mr Gargasoulas, for better or for worse, is absolutely committed to his explanation and as another jury found, he is fit to stand trial," he said.

"He is accordingly entitled to say what he wishes about the offences with which he's been charged."

In his final address to the jury, Dr Alexander conceded Gargasoulas had no defence to the charges.

Sorry, this video has expired Driver arrested after Melbourne incident

In an unusually short closing, which lasted about one minute, he thanked the jury on behalf of Gargasoulas for their attention.

On the penultimate day of the trial, Gargasoulas was called as the defence's only witness and told the jury he'd had a premonition from God of running people over in Bourke Street, about half an hour before he drove there.

Bhavita Patel was one of six people killed in the attack. ( Facebook )

"I apologise from my heart," he said.

Zachary Matthew-Bryant (right), who died in the incident, with his sister, Zara, who was injured. ( Supplied )

"But that's not going to fix anything if I say sorry. Neither will a lengthy sentence fix what I've done."

He also read from a two-page statement, which he had condensed from a version that was 25 pages long, and rambled about the Illuminati and oppression, as he gave evidence for about 10 minutes.

Ms Judd later said Gargasoulas' explanation did not constitute a defence.

"The prosecution case is strong," she said.

"The evidence called by the defence does not dent the prosecution case in any way whatsoever."