Melbourne’s Bourke Street killer James Gargasoulas has read a letter to the loved ones of his victims in court, blaming “government oppression” for his crimes.

Gargasoulas, 29, killed six pedestrians and injured dozens more when he drove a stolen car along footpaths and through a busy pedestrian mall while in a drug-induced psychosis on January 20, 2017.

His bizarre address to a Supreme Court of Victoria pre-sentence hearing on Thursday was similar to a statement he delivered to the court during his trial.

He apologised to his victims and their family and friends, but added neither his apology or “a lengthy jail sentence” would fix his actions.

“I am deeply ashamed of what I’ve done. I must say it is a tragic day for all of you and myself. If only we could go back in time, I would change it all,” Gargasoulas told the court.

What I want you to know is I am a victim of government oppression. It is because of oppression six people have died and many were injured.

“I am not evil. I am not a terrorist. I am a freedom fighter who is now educated to stop oppression.”

Gargasoulas described what he believed were the government and monarchy’s misdeeds in overruling “God’s laws of liberty” and that the country’s legal, social and financial systems were designed to “enslave humanity”.

He said he was the Messiah and that his actions on the day of the massacre were caused by God, who wanted Gargasoulas to help reinstate God’s laws.

“God is half responsible for what I did. He kept me safe from the people that wanted to harm me so I could tell the truth,” he said under cross-examination.

“Prior to Bourke Street, I had visions, visions that kept me safe from assassinations.”

He added he was in a “bad headspace” at the time caused by troubles with his girlfriend, younger brother, and because he believed the Illuminati was “after me”.

Gargasoulas said he had a “big heart” and was remorseful but admitted he “wasn’t thinking straight” during the massacre and said he felt his victims colliding with his windscreen.

He also denied he had schizophrenia and claimed the drug ice, which he’d used before the massacre, was not “that bad a drug”.

Sections of a letter from Gargasoulas’ father Christos were also read to the court, in which he said the incident had brought “much shame on my family”.

“The last two years before the incident at Bourke Street, I noticed that Jimmy was not very stable with any jobs or relationships or life in general,” Mr Gargasoulas said in his letter.

“I am very sorry for what my son has done and apologise for his actions and all the pain he has caused.”

The plea hearing continues on Thursday afternoon, when Gargasoulas’ treating psychiatrist is expected to give evidence.

-AAP