Police were alerted to Westfield Bondi Junction killer’s behavior ahead of mass stabbing, coroner’s court hears

The man who fatally stabbed six people at Bondi Junction did not take medication to treat his mental illness, leading his parents to confiscate his hunting knives, a coroner’s court heard.

The NSW Coroner’s Court heard today that an inquest will be held to examine possible failings in the mental health system in both New South Wales and Queensland before the murders at Westfield shopping center on April 13.

The court heard it would also examine the adequacy of the shopping centre’s security measures in the lead up to the shooting death of Joel Cauchi by NSW Police Superintendent Amy Scott.

The lawyer assisting the coroner, Dr. Peggy Dwyer SC laid out the key issues today at a preliminary hearing ahead of the full inquest next year.

The court heard Cauchi had not used “psychotropic drugs”, which he had used to treat schizophrenia since 2019, in the years before he stabbed 16 shoppers with a large hunting knife.

The court heard he had not been taking his medication until the attack, despite repeated warnings to authorities that his mental health was deteriorating.

“From early 2020 until 13 April 2024, Cauchi received no specific treatment for his mental health and the evidence suggests a deterioration in his mental health during this period,” Dr Dwyer told the court. he said.

The court later heard Cauchi “came to the attention” of Queensland Police several times in the years before he arrived in Sydney, although he was never charged with a crime.

Queensland Police went to his parents’ home in Toowoomba in January 2023 after Cauchi called them to report that he had stolen his father’s hunting knife collection.

“These were the same knife used in the Bondi attack,” the court heard.

Police were informed that Cauchi “suffered from long-term schizophrenia, was no longer on medication, and his parents were concerned about his deteriorating mental state, so his knives were confiscated by his father.”

“Police officers did not consider they had a basis at the time to detain Mr Cauchi involuntarily,” Dr Dwyer told the court.

The court heard one of the officers later emailed a mental health professional “expressing concerns about his mental health” but no further action was taken.

Cauchi called police days later to report the stolen knives again, prompting an officer to enter a “be careful” flag into the system.

The court heard Cauchi had traveled between Queensland and NSW between 2023 and 2024 and was homeless and “living under the Maroubra beach lodge” at the time of the Bondi attack.

In the months before the attack, a member of the public called NSW Police to report a “non-moving” body in a sleeping bag at Maroubra.

NSW Police intervened and found Cauchi had a warning attached to his name in the system in Queensland, mentioning his mental health and interest in knives.

“The fact that Mr Cauchi was homeless while in NSW is a matter that I hope will be of great importance,” Dr Dwyer told the court.

“I hope that your Honor will hear from at least one expert psychologist that there is a strong need for permanent housing for the mentally ill homeless… including men like Mr. Cauchi who suffer from schizophrenia… men who fall through the cracks and then become seriously disturbed including “

day of attack

On the morning of April 13, Cauchi, the heart of the court, was “sleeping rough” in the Maroubra area, and from there he set out at about 6:30 a.m. for a warehouse he had rented in Waterloo.

Before leaving, he spent an hour and a half in the warehouse, charging his phone and changing clothes.

The court heard the man then returned to the unit at around 11.10am and retrieved a rucksack “this time with the knife tragically hidden inside”.

Just after 3pm he entered Westfield Bondi Junction and “went in and out of the shopping center and a number of shops with no apparent purpose”.

The court heard Cauchi queued up behind Dawn Singleton at a bakery on the fourth floor just after 3.30pm.

“After fidgeting for a few minutes, Mr Cauchi pulled a knife from his backpack… stabbed Dawn and fatally injured her,” Dr Dwyer told the court.

Ms. Singleton was the first of 16 victims.

Dr Dwyer told the court that CCTV showed Cauchi “stabbing and attempting to stab everyone he approached”.

The court heard he fatally stabbed Jade Young, Yixuan Cheng, Ashlee Good, Faraz Tahir and Pikria Darchia.

Dr Dwyer told the court the moment Ms Good confronted Cauchi to save her young daughter.

Dr Dwyer said: “When Ashlee was stabbed, she turned and saw Mr Cauchi attacking her daughter’s car. She rushed to him and fought him off, resulting in another stab wound… but undoubtedly saved her daughter’s life.” he said. court.

The court stated that “in less than three minutes, 16 people were stabbed and injured as a result of indiscriminate attacks.”

Police response

Following the triple 0 call at 3.34pm, an emergency call was broadcast over the police radio, which was picked up by Inspector Scott, who was in his car heading to Bondi Junction on other business.

Inspector Scott entered the center alone at 3.37pm and the court heard he was directed by witnesses to Cauchi’s place on the 4th floor, with some following him “armed with chairs”.

Inspector Scott then spotted Cauchi and chased after him as he ran towards a long footbridge.

The court heard Cauchi turned around and “attacked Inspector Scott with the knife out” and shouted at him to “stop and drop the gun”.

“One minute and 19 seconds had passed since Inspector Scott arrived.”

The court heard the inquiry will also examine the response from emergency services after Cauchi’s murder and whether “concern about a potential second armed offender” at the center may have “influenced” the treatment of victims.

Shopping mall security response

Dr Dwyer told the court a key “area of ​​interest” in the investigation would be the security arrangements in place at Westfield Bondi Junction, which was owned by Scentre Group, at the time of the attack.

The court heard 15 security guards were employed at the center that day, including some who were subcontracted “temporarily”.

Dr Dwyer told the court: “The court will hear about the location of the security guards on that Saturday and the actions of the security guards, including those in the CCTV room.”

He told the court there was “significant public interest” in whether risk assessment and planning “is good enough and can be improved… and whether security officers are sufficiently trained and equipped to deal with these dynamic events”.

He also told the court that “no alarm was heard at Westfield Bondi until approximately one minute after Mr Cauchi was shot.”

“It is currently unclear why it took so long for the alarm to go off,” Dr Dwyer said.

The court also heard that the alarm that went off after his death “was so loud it interfered with (first responders’) ability to communicate with each other, including by radio.”

The brothers of security guard Faraz Tahir, who lost his life in the attack, spoke in front of the courthouse.

“Faraz, he was a brave man and as you know he was bare handed, he was on duty at the time and was just trying to stop the attacker and he gave his life,” said his younger brother Sheraz.

He said Mr Tahir’s family hoped the investigation would result in better protection of security personnel in such situations.

Full investigation will take place in 2025

The court was told a full judicial investigation will take place from April 28 until May 30 next year.

The coroner will then consider possible recommendations to help prevent similar attacks in the future.

At the opening of today’s directions hearing, State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan addressed the victims’ families directly and acknowledged the “unimaginable pain and loss”.

“This investigation will never give back what was taken from you,” he said.