Inquest aims to stop repeat of Sydney Westfield stabbing attack

Ashlee Good (38), Dawn Singleton (25), Jade Young (47), Pikria Darchia (55), Yixuan Cheng (27) and 30-year-old security guard Faraz Tahir lost their lives in the attack.

At least 12 people, including those with stab wounds, were taken to hospital. A nine-month-old baby who was discharged after treatment was one of them.

NSW Police inspector Amy Scott put an end to 40-year-old Cauchi’s rampage by shooting him on the complex’s fifth floor as shoppers fled.

The court was told Cauchi was being treated for schizophrenia, but his medication began to be tapered from late 2019.

From early 2020 until the time of the attack, he received no treatment, despite evidence that his mental health was deteriorating.

NSW State Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan expressed her condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased.

“The events of April 13 remain raw and painful for everyone affected,” he said.

Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC said such mass casualty incidents were rare in Australia and could reveal shortcomings or flaws in systems intended to deal with them.

“When they happen, they happen quickly and cause chaos,” he said.

“They provide an opportunity to learn with the goal of saving lives in the future.”

Dr Dwyer said there was significant public interest in how major companies such as Scentre Group, which operates the shopping centre, were preparing for mass casualty events.

The evidence was expected to show that no alarm was heard at Westfield Bondi Junction until about a minute after Cauchi was shot dead and seven minutes after the first victim was attacked, the court was told.

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

The investigation is expected to last from April 28 to May 30.