Prosecutors preparing the brief of evidence against accused Bourke Street killer Dimitrious "Jimmy" Gargasoulas have been called to front the Supreme Court to provide an update on how the complex case is progressing.
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Gargasoulas' lawyers have also been invited to appear before Justice Lex Lasry in a special mention hearing on Friday.
It's understood Gargasoulas will not be present for the mention hearing.
Justice Lasry has invited prosecutors to outline their case against Gargasoulas, and the timeframe in which they expect the court case to run.
The move is an unusual one by Justice Lasry, with Gargasoulas' case still working its way through the Magistrates Court. Gargasoulas is in custody and is due to appear before the Magistrates Court on August 1.
His case was not expected to reach the Supreme Court before next year.
But it's a sign of the complexity of the case against Gargasoulas and the potential for a lengthy trial if the process is not carefully managed; there were thousands of witnesses to the events in Bourke Street, and police have taken more than 420 statements in the weeks after the tragedy. They expect to take almost 500 more.
Six people died in the January 20 rampage, and 31 more were hospitalised.
Those who died include 10-year-old Thalia Hakin, 22-year-old Jess Mudie, 33-year-old Matthew Si, 33-year-old Bhavita Patel, a 25-year-old Japanese national and Zachary Bryant, a three-month-old baby boy.
Gargasoulas, 26, is currently charged with five counts of murder. He is yet to be charged over the sixth victim's death.
Last week, Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Steve Fontana appealed for a witness who had sent in an image purportedly from Gargasoulas' Facebook page, which could shed light on the accused man's movements the day before the Bourke Street attack, to come forward.
Mr Fontana said police were considering laying more charges, including murder and attempted murder.
Gargasoulas' brother Angelo Gargasoulas is due to face the Magistrates Court on Friday on unrelated matters.
Angelo spent several weeks in hospital after allegedly being stabbed by his older brother on the morning of the alleged Bourke Street attack.
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