AUSTRALIAN authorities added murder today to the charges faced by an Afghan refugee who rammed a car into pedestrians in Melbourne a few days before Christmas.

Melbourne magistrates’ court filed the extra charge against Saeed Noori after an 83-year-old man died of his injuries in hospital eight days on from the attack.

He had already been charged with 18 counts of attempted murder and one of conduct endangering life after he drove a four-by-four vehicle onto a pavement on December 21.

Australian citizen Mr Noori, who has a history of drug abuse and mental health problems, faces life imprisonment.

He has yet to plead to any of the charges, but his lawyers have said his mental state and fitness to stand trial could form part of their defence.

So far, police have not classified the incident or a similar attack at a Melbourne shopping centre in January that left six dead as a terrorist attack.