Westfield Bondi Junction inquest: Joel Cauchi bookmarked pages about serial killers and massacres in the days before the attack

Sky News AU

28-04-2025

Joel Cauchi had bookmarked pages about serial killers and mass killings in the days before the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attack, an inquest has heard.
Cauchi, 40, killed six people and injured 10 others in a mass stabbing at the Sydney shopping centre on April 13, 2024.
The inquest will examine Mr Cauchi's schizophrenia diagnosis and why he remained unmedicated and unsupervised for five years before the attack.
It will also investigate gaps in Queensland's mental health system that allowed him to "fall through the cracks".
Counsel Assisting the Coroner, Dr Peggy Dwyer, delivered a two-hour opening statement on the first day of the inquest, outlining evidence that Cauchi had become preoccupied with weapons, violence, and mass murder.
She said the browsing history that suggested evidence of planning before the attack started in late 2022.
Cauchi's web history included multiple mass shooting events, including the 1999 Columbine High School massacre.
Dr Dwyer said Cauchi had also purchased multiple KA-BAR knives - one of which was used on the day of the attack.
"Apart from Mr Cauchi's dark thoughts, there is no direct evidence indicating any motive in relation to what happened," Dr Dwyer said.
The inquest heard about a prior incident in January 2023, when police were called to the family home after Cauchi's father confiscated several knives similar to the one used in the April attack.
"The court will explore whether that was a missed opportunity for intervention by police, which may have led to Mr Cauchi being re-engaged with the mental health system," Dr Dwyer said.
Cauchi was also using cannabis, which may have worsened his condition. Dr Dwyer said the drug likely "exacerbated" his symptoms.
The court heard disturbing details about the victims who died: Dawn Singleton, Jade Young, Yixuan Cheng, Ashlee Good, Pikria Darchia, and Faraz Tahir.
The inquest also acknowledged the heroic actions of civilians, first responders, and NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, who fatally shot Cauchi less than six minutes after the rampage began.
"Your Honour, there is no question with respect to the propriety of her actions. Her professionalism on 13 April 2024 is clearly beyond doubt," Dr Dwyer said.
Of nearly 250 civilian witness statements submitted, only two civilians are expected to give oral evidence - Damien Guerot and Silas Desperaux, the "bollard men" who helped guide Inspector Scott to the attacker.
Inspector Scott and the two French construction workers will give evidence on Tuesday.
The five-week inquest will also hear security, emergency response, and psychiatry experts in the weeks ahead.