A man has been jailed for life for driving a car at pedestrians at a busy Flinders St intersection in Melbourne's CBD in 2017, killing one man and injuring 16 other people.

Key points: Noori, 37, will have to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison before being eligible for parole

Noori, 37, will have to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison before being eligible for parole The sentencing judge said many victims likened the attack to a horror movie

The sentencing judge said many victims likened the attack to a horror movie Noori was not charged with terrorism offences, but the court heard he had accessed material about car attacks in London and elsewhere

Saeed Noori, 37, pleaded guilty in December last year to one count of murder, 11 counts of recklessly causing injury and five counts of reckless conduct endangering life over the attack at the intersection of Flinders and Elizabeth streets about 4:30pm on December 21, 2017.

Antonio Crocaris, 83, died in hospital from head injuries he sustained when he was struck by the car being driven by Noori through the busy all-way pedestrian crossing.

Noori initially tried to rent a car, but ended up using his mother's SUV in the attack. ( AAP: Joe Castro )

During Noori's sentencing today, Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Hollingworth said the attack had left many of the people who were at the scene fearful of crowds, busy areas, screeching tyres and erratic drivers.

"Some victims have likened the scene to a horror movie — one which keeps replaying in nightmares or flashbacks, and keeps them awake at night," Justice Hollingworth told Noori, who kept his gaze down.

"Many of them lost their sense of optimism and trust … you shattered their sense of safety," the judge said.

Noori initially tried to rent a vehicle but ended up using his mother's car in the attack.

CCTV footage played in a committal hearing in September showed Noori driving the SUV onto the tram tracks by Flinders St Station and then accelerating through the intersection at Elizabeth St as dozens of people crossed the road.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 1 minute 1 m Emergency services outside Flinders Street Station after pedestrians hit by car

The judge described Noori's actions as a "conscious, voluntary and deliberate act of driving into pedestrians".

"It's clear from the CCTV that you did not at any time attempt to stop, slow down or avoid people in the intersection," she said.

Noori was not charged with terrorism offences, but the court heard he had accessed material about car attacks in London and elsewhere.

The court heard he shouted "Allahu Akbar" ("God is great" in Arabic) several times as he resisted arrest by an off-duty police officer.

Antonios Crocaris, 83, sustained head injuries in the attack and died in hospital eight days later. ( Supplied: Victoria Police )

Noori later told police he had "acted in the name of Allah" and that Allah had commanded him in a dream to carry out the attack.

Noori, from Heidelberg West, is an Australian citizen who was born in Afghanistan.

When he was about 12 years old, his family fled to Iran as refugees to escape the Taliban.

He arrived in Australia on a humanitarian visa about 10 years later.

Justice Hollingworth said Noori became a heavy gambler and user of illegal drugs, particularly ice.

In 2016, he was diagnosed with drug-induced psychosis and was admitted to a psychiatric unit.

Sorry, this video has expired Victoria Police detain man after Flinders Street Station incident

Later that year, returning to Australia after a trip to the Middle East, an outstanding warrant for his arrest on drug charges led to him being questioned and his baggage searched by Border Force officers.

"This event appears to have been something of a catalyst for you believing that you were being persecuted and monitored by ASIO," the judge said.

When the Department of Health and Human Services became involved with his family after receiving a notification about family violence and drug use, child protection workers described Noori as being aggressive and paranoid, believing they were from ASIO.

The judge said there was no evidence Noori was drug affected when he carried out the attack, and there was nothing specific in the days leading up to it that appeared to have triggered his actions on the day.

One man was killed and a further 16 people injured in the attack. ( Twitter: @sirVIX_a_lot )

He will have to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison before being eligible for parole.

He waved to family in the court as he was led away.

A female relative of Noori collapsed as he was taken from the courtroom.