Latest news with #Clopine
Daily Mirror
14-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Shopping centre killer was 'under Satanic control' before stabbing six to death
Joel Cauchi Cauchi killed six people at a shopping centre in Sydney, Australia, in April 2023, and an inquest has heard how he claimed to be 'under satanic control' before the attack A man who went on a killing spree in a shopping centre left notes suggesting that he was 'under satanic control of religious beings', an inquest has heard. Joel Cauchi, 40, killed Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Yixuan Cheng, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, Dawn Singleton, 25, and Faraz Tahir, 30, and injured 10 others at Westfield Bondi Junction on 13 April last year before he was shot and killed by police inspector Amy Scott. Clinical notes, personal writings, and emails from Cauchi's mother have revealed a troubling descent into mental illness in the years leading up to his deadly attack. The coronial inquest into the mass stabbing resumed its third week on Monday, focusing on testimony from psychiatrists and registered nurses who had treated Cauchi in his hometown of Toowoomba, Queensland. One registered nurse, who worked closely with Cauchi between 2011 and 2019, recalled the shock of discovering he was the attacker behind the tragedy. 'I turned the TV off so my children wouldn't see the news,' said the nurse, who cannot be named for legal reasons. 'Then his name came up on my phone - I vomited when I saw it was him. It just didn't make sense. It didn't match the Joel I knew.' Cauchi, who had been diagnosed with treatment-resistant schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder, was under long-term psychiatric care and had been taking a powerful antipsychotic medication. According to the nurse, he was extremely conscientious about his health. 'He didn't want to get unwell. He was always anxious about relapsing,' she told the inquest. 'He never missed an appointment.' Around 2016–2017, Cauchi's Clopine dosage was slightly reduced under supervision. He reported feeling better physically and mentally, with increased energy and no signs of hallucinations or violence. By mid-2018, he had fully stopped taking Clopine. In June 2019, he began refusing Abilify as well - leaving him completely unmedicated for the first time in 15 years. Both nurses who testified Monday expressed concern, saying they had never seen a patient come off Clopine without transitioning to another antipsychotic. By late 2019, Cauchi's mental health had begun to unravel. His mother, Michele Cauchi, contacted the clinic, expressing growing alarm. In an email dated November 2019, she wrote: 'I know you thought that it wasn't having any effect, but I have noticed a gradual decline in his condition. I have a feeling he is now hearing voices. I would hate to see him have to go back into hospital after 20 years of being stable on medication.' She also reported disturbing signs. Cauchi believed he was under satanic control, exhibited compulsive showering, developed a strange gait, and began layering clothes to protect himself from illness. He also became obsessively concerned with pornography, asking the clinic for help finding an internet provider that could block it. The following day, Joel's nurse spoke with his father, Andrew Cauchi, who strongly opposed any return to medication. A clinical note from that conversation read: "Father became adamant that he did not want his son to go on medication as it will kill him… He said he himself had been traumatised by demons and hears voices, and is not on medication.' The family's deeply religious background, coupled with Andrew Cauchi's own mental health struggles, became a significant factor in Joel's care. Despite multiple efforts by medical professionals to convince Joel to resume treatment, he refused. By 2020, his behaviour had become increasingly erratic. Police were called multiple times due to his obsession with military knives and confrontations with his parents. By early 2024, he was homeless and sleeping on a Sydney beach. On March 13, 2024, Cauchi entered Westfield Bondi Junction with a large military knife and fatally stabbed six people before being shot dead by a NSW Police inspector. His mother's earlier fears had tragically come true. The inquest continues.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Man Who Killed 6 in Sydney Mall Stabbing Was 'Not Psychotic,' Likely Acted Out of 'Hatred for Women,' Ex-Doctor Testifies
Joel Cauchi, the man who fatally stabbed six people in a Sydney mall on April 13, 2024, carried out the attack due to his "hatred towards women,' his former doctor has reportedly testified in court 'That was nothing to do with psychosis. He couldn't have organized himself to do what he did. I think it might have been due to his frustrations, sexual frustration, pornography and hatred towards women," the doctor reportedly told an inquest on Tuesday, May 13 The suggestion goes against evidence from other psychiatric experts that Cauchi did have a psychotic episode during the attackJoel Cauchi, the man who fatally stabbed six people in a Sydney mall on April 13, 2024, did not have a psychotic episode and most likely acted out due to 'his hatred towards women,' his doctor has reportedly revealed in court. A psychiatrist who previously treated Cauchi, 40, for several years before the attack made the bombshell claim in an inquest on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. This contradicts evidence from other psychiatric experts suggesting that Cauchi was 'floridly psychic' during the attack, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Guardian reported. The Queensland doctor, referred to as "Dr. A" for legal reasons, alleged in court that Cauchi did not have a psychotic episode, as this didn't fall in line with him having the capabilities to organize the planned attack, according to the outlets. 'That was nothing to do with psychosis,' Dr. A said, per The Guardian. 'He couldn't have organized himself to do what he did. I think it might have been due to his frustrations, sexual frustration, pornography and hatred towards women.' Cauchi stabbed and killed six people and injured 12 others at a Westfield mall in Sydney on April 13. He was fatally shot by a responding police officer. Ash Good, 38, whose 9-month-old daughter was also injured in the attack, died in the hospital, and The Telegraph previously reported. Dr. A treated Cauchi at a private clinic from 2012 to 2020. He had been completely unmedicated since 2019 and was weaned off the antipsychotic medications, Clopine and Abilify, years before the attack. The doctor reportedly told the inquest the medication 'would have made no difference," per SMH. According to the outlet, Cauchi's mother, Michele, had tried to warn Dr. A and his nurses that her son was declining in late 2019, saying that Cauchi was scrawling messages about being under 'satanic' control and was obsessing over pornography and sexually transmitted diseases. Dr. A denied in the inquest that his former client showed signs of reemerging psychosis at the time and stands by the decision to wean him off his medication, per SMH. 'It was my decision, and his decision,' Dr A told the inquest on Tuesday, per SMH. 'I was listening to the patient … I did not fail in my care of Joel. I have no error on my behalf.' 'It wasn't psychosis, it wasn't even early warning signs of relapse, it was based on his fear of STDs, it was based on his sexual frustration, he told us later about prostitutes and women and sex,' Dr. A added. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. During a press conference on April 14, per 9 News Australia, Queensland Police Acting Asst. Comm. Roger Lowe said that he was "aware this individual has suffered from mental health" issues, referring to Cauchi. Cauchi's family said in a statement after the April 13 attack, per the BBC, "We are absolutely devastated by the traumatic events that occurred in Sydney yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and those still undergoing treatment at this time. Joel's actions were truly horrific, and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened." Read the original article on People
The Age
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Age
‘Hatred toward women': Killer's psychiatrist makes bombshell claim at Bondi inquest
Dr A's evidence contradicts a panel of psychiatric experts whose evidence to the inquest suggests Cauchi was 'floridly psychotic' and stabbed people at random. They concluded he was not motivated by any hatred or fixation on women after reviewing evidence from his phones and internet history. The evidence from Dr A has become central to the inquest as she weaned Cauchi off two antipsychotic medications, Clopine and Abilify, in the years before the attack. He was completely unmedicated from mid-2019. 'Do you take responsibility for the decision-making in removing Joel from Clopine and Abilify?' Dwyer asked. 'It was my decision, and his decision,' Dr A shot back. Loading 'I was listening to the patient,' she later added. By his late 20s and 30s Cauchi was highly intelligent, spoke multiple languages, and eager to establish a full life outside his parents' care, clinical notes show. But his decline from late 2019 was swift and dramatic. His mother tried desperately to raise the alarm with Dr A and the clinic. Michele Cauchi warned doctors and nurses that her son was scrawling notes about being under 'satanic' control, wearing layers of clothing to avoid illness, and was walking strangely. 'You had an agreement with (Cauchi), if there would be signs and symptoms of psychosis, he would take the medication?' Dwyer asked Dr A. 'He was a private patient, he decides if he wants to take the medication,' Dr A said. By November 2019 Cauchi was obsessing over pornography and sexually transmitted diseases. Loading But Dr A denied Cauchi showed early warning signs of relapse into psychosis in the final years of her care. 'Sitting in the witness box today … do you accept he did develop a psychosis?' Dwyer asked. 'It wasn't psychosis, it wasn't even early warning signs of relapse, it was based on his fear of STDs, it was based on his sexual frustration, he told us later about prostitutes and women and sex,' Dr A said. '(Re-medicating Cauchi) wouldn't have changed the outcome and, in hindsight, it wasn't necessary – the medication.' Cauchi's father, who has his own mental health problems, had spoken with his son's carers and described hearing the 'voice of God' and 'demons' of his own in 2019. He did not want his son to take any medication, and feared it could kill him. Dr A told the inquest that schizophrenia is hereditary, and required lifelong psychiatric care and monitoring. Cauchi was discharged from Dr A's clinic in 2020 and moved to Brisbane. Around that time, he began running into problems with police and became fixated with knives.
Sydney Morning Herald
13-05-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Hatred toward women': Killer's psychiatrist makes bombshell claim at Bondi inquest
Dr A's evidence contradicts a panel of psychiatric experts whose evidence to the inquest suggests Cauchi was 'floridly psychotic' and stabbed people at random. They concluded he was not motivated by any hatred or fixation on women after reviewing evidence from his phones and internet history. The evidence from Dr A has become central to the inquest as she weaned Cauchi off two antipsychotic medications, Clopine and Abilify, in the years before the attack. He was completely unmedicated from mid-2019. 'Do you take responsibility for the decision-making in removing Joel from Clopine and Abilify?' Dwyer asked. 'It was my decision, and his decision,' Dr A shot back. Loading 'I was listening to the patient,' she later added. By his late 20s and 30s Cauchi was highly intelligent, spoke multiple languages, and eager to establish a full life outside his parents' care, clinical notes show. But his decline from late 2019 was swift and dramatic. His mother tried desperately to raise the alarm with Dr A and the clinic. Michele Cauchi warned doctors and nurses that her son was scrawling notes about being under 'satanic' control, wearing layers of clothing to avoid illness, and was walking strangely. 'You had an agreement with (Cauchi), if there would be signs and symptoms of psychosis, he would take the medication?' Dwyer asked Dr A. 'He was a private patient, he decides if he wants to take the medication,' Dr A said. By November 2019 Cauchi was obsessing over pornography and sexually transmitted diseases. Loading But Dr A denied Cauchi showed early warning signs of relapse into psychosis in the final years of her care. 'Sitting in the witness box today … do you accept he did develop a psychosis?' Dwyer asked. 'It wasn't psychosis, it wasn't even early warning signs of relapse, it was based on his fear of STDs, it was based on his sexual frustration, he told us later about prostitutes and women and sex,' Dr A said. '(Re-medicating Cauchi) wouldn't have changed the outcome and, in hindsight, it wasn't necessary – the medication.' Cauchi's father, who has his own mental health problems, had spoken with his son's carers and described hearing the 'voice of God' and 'demons' of his own in 2019. He did not want his son to take any medication, and feared it could kill him. Dr A told the inquest that schizophrenia is hereditary, and required lifelong psychiatric care and monitoring. Cauchi was discharged from Dr A's clinic in 2020 and moved to Brisbane. Around that time, he began running into problems with police and became fixated with knives.
Sydney Morning Herald
12-05-2025
- Health
- Sydney Morning Herald
Killer's mum pleaded for help, but dad haunted by ‘demons' too, Bondi Junction stabbing inquest told
He was on a second smaller dose of Abilify, a second medication used to treat his obsessive-compulsive disorder. Cauchi was diligent with his medication and he never missed appointments. The nurse said the man was anxious about 'relapsing' into illness. 'He didn't want to get unwell, and he was very conscientious,' the nurse said. 'He had anxiety around it. He wanted to get support and make sure he did the right thing.' The nurse was monitoring Cauchi as the centre slightly reduced his Clopine dose around 2016-17. Cauchi was feeling better physically and mentally, and noticed boosted energy levels and improved capacity to study, the nurse told the court. He reported no hallucinations or violent tendencies. Cauchi, under the care of his psychiatrist at the same centre, completely came off Clopine in mid-2018. He began refusing to take Abilify in June 2019. Both nurses who gave evidence on Monday said they had never seen a patient go off Clopine and not transition to a replacement anti-psychotic. But Cauchi, by late 2019, was completely unmedicated for the first time in 15 years. Just weeks later, however, Cauchi's mother contacted the centre and said her son's behaviour was changing in terrifying ways. 'I know you thought that it wasn't having any effect, but I have noticed a gradual decline in his condition,' Michele Cauchi wrote in November 2019. 'I have a feeling he is now hearing voices. 'I would hate to see him have to go back into hospital after 20 years of being stable on medication. I would love to see him being able to live successfully, independently, and doing as well as he was a year ago when he first moved out of home.' Over the phone, Michele Cauchi told one of the centre's nurses that her son's notes said he was 'under Satanic control from religious beings'. Further, he was showering compulsively, had taken on a strange 'gait', and was wearing layers of clothing to stop himself getting sick. Cauchi was also fixated on pornography, and emailed the centre asking if they could help him get a phone or internet provider that would prevent him from accessing pornography. The following day, on November 21, 2019, Cauchi's nurse spoke to Joel's father, Andrew, over the phone. A clinical note, detailing their conversation, shows Andrew Cauchi did not want his son to go back on the medicine. 'Information given to his father, who became adamant that he did not want his son to go on medication as it will kill him,' the note reads. 'Father spoke that he himself had been traumatised by demons when awake and hears voices and is not on medication.' The Cauchi family are very religious, and the inquest has heard Andrew Cauchi has mental health problems. The doctors and nurses treating Cauchi urged him to go back on medication, but he did not want to. In February 2020, Cauchi was preparing to move to Brisbane. It would have taken him far from his family and Toowoomba. Cauchi's worried mother called again, telling centre that her son's unit was filthy, he was uncharacteristically swearing, and she feared he would become homeless if he moved to Brisbane. But one month later, in March, Cauchi was discharged and was out on his own and no one had the power to force him back onto his medication, the inquest heard. 'Don't you think the clinic should have followed up with Joel after March 2020 to ensure he found a new psychiatrist?' barrister for some of the victims' families, Sue Chrysanthou, SC, asked one nurse. 'That would have been ideal,' the nurse said. Cauchi could not be forcefully medicated unless detained under the Mental Health Act. That could happen only if he posed an imminent threat to himself, the inquest has heard. 'It's not something Joel could have been forced to do. His rights are taken into consideration,' one nurse told the inquest on Monday. Cauchi, in 2020, had multiple run-ins with police and his parents, including over a growing fixation he developed for military knives. By March 2024, the fears of Cauchi's mother had borne out; he was homeless and sleeping on a beach in Sydney. One month later, he would take one of his large military knives and kill six people in Bondi Junction Westfield before being shot dead by a NSW Police inspector.
