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ABC News
5 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
The full timeline of the Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing as heard in the coronial inquest
It took six minutes for countless lives to be changed on April 13, 2024. Joel Cauchi entered Westfield Bondi Junction armed with a knife towards the tail end of the school holidays, a busy period for the shopping centre. WARNING: This story contains content that readers may find distressing. He killed six people — Dawn Singleton, Jade Young, Yixuan Cheng, Ashlee Good, Faraz Tahir, and Pikria Darchia — five of whom died at the scene and one in hospital. Ten people were also stabbed but survived, before NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott fatally shot Cauchi after a tense foot pursuit. The NSW Coroners Court heard Cauchi was unmedicated for schizophrenia, and his web history showed he was "preoccupied with weapons, with violence and with mass killing" since 2022. The day will never leave the families of the victims, the witnesses, shoppers, retail staff, security, first responders, and members of the public simply in the area at the time. This is the complete chronology of how the attack happened, according to the coronial inquest that finished sitting after five weeks of hearings. A woman referred to as CR1 is the main operator inside the Westfield security control room beneath the shops, watching the centre's 706 CCTV cameras. Coming in and out throughout the day is a man known in court as CR2, who is rostered onto a "roving" shift. There are 15 security guards located throughout the centre at this time. At 2:55pm, CR2 leaves CR1 in the control room to attend a training session with Glad and Westfield operator, Scentre, in the management office above the retail stores. Cauchi had spent the day roaming Westfield, detouring to Bondi Beach before re-entering at 3:22pm. He walks across the air bridge on level 4 nine minutes later. CR1 leaves the security control room to use the bathroom, which is a few metres away from the door. The CCTV screens are now unmonitored. Forty seconds later, Cauchi stabs Dawn Singleton near Sourdough Bakery on level four. Cauchi moves a few metres south of the bakery and stabs Jade Young. He then attempts to stab a third victim, known as Witness C, outside AJE Athletica, now known as AJE Lifestyle. She retains minor scratches. Yixuan Cheng is stabbed six seconds later outside the Peter Alexander store, now the site of Stylerunner. Two more victims, known as Witness D and Witness E, are stabbed outside Cotton On and Lululemon, respectively. A second later, about 3:33:28pm, security guards Muhammad Taha and Faraz Tahir are first alerted by customers of the attacks, and call it in via radio. The pair are also on a roving shift and are standing opposite Gucci and David Jones, also on the fourth level of the centre at the time. They begin heading south, walking close together, towards the air bridge and the bakery. Another security guard spots Cauchi from level five and is believed to have called a "Code Black, Alpha" on the radio before losing sight of Cauchi. Seventh victim Witness F is then stabbed outside of Kookai. Around the time that Witness G, the eighth victim, is stabbed just inside Myer, the team in the centre management office leave to verify the incident. CR1 hears a radio broadcast from the bathroom but cannot make out what is said before returning to the security control room. Ashlee Good is stabbed by Cauchi outside of the AJE Athletica store, followed by 10th victim Witness H. CR2 takes the lift down to the underground control room to support CR1. The first emergency call to NSW Ambulance is placed by a member of the public, as Cauchi runs back past the bakery, stabbing Mr Tahir and Mr Taha. Just before 3:35pm, he also attacks Witness I and the 14th victim Witness X before stabbing Pikria Darchia outside Chanel Boutique. The 16th and last person attacked, Liya Barko, is stabbed outside Zimmeran on level three at 3:35pm. NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott acknowledges the job on police radio while on the road. Two French civilians Silas Despreaux and Damien Guerot confront Cauchi on an escalator between level three and four, throwing bollards at him. At 3:36pm, CR1 dials triple-0, but the call does not connect. Cauchi had been active for about three minutes at the time of CR1's second attempt. She is put on hold for six minutes. At this point, CR2 is back in the control room and logs in to review CCTV and track Cauchi alongside CR1. Inspector Scott arrives outside the shopping centre on the corner of Oxford and Adelaide Streets. Mr Despreaux and Mr Guerot follow behind the police officer near Zara, and head up to level five where Cauchi is believed to be near Boost Juice. Inspector Scott tells NSW Police via radio she has "got eyes on him … towards Rebel, Myer, Harvey Norman". She is in "foot pursuit" of Cauchi along level five, reaching the air bridge near Priceline. He turns to face her and runs toward the officer. Inspector Scott shoots Cauchi three times at 3:38:40pm, with two of the bullets causing fatal injuries. A minute prior, CR2 activates the Centre Management Emergency Override system button. It triggers "EVAC ALL" displays to appear throughout the centre's screens at 3:39pm. The evacuation alarm sounds at 3:40pm. Senior ambulance and police officials arrive on the scene, and the topic of a second offender is discussed. At 3:45pm, the security control room says it is reviewing the CCTV and will confirm the number of suspects ASAP. Five minutes later, CR1 goes to the Fire Control Room to make a PA announcement for people to evacuate Westfield. CR2 confirms there was only one offender at 3:52pm, but a police helicopter advises of a person of interest on the rooftop car park at 4:08pm. Police broadcast about 20 minutes later that Cauchi is the sole offender. At 3:55pm, paramedics attend to Faraz Tahir. Emergency treatment takes place outside the centre at 4:15pm, but Mr Tahir dies soon after. It was his first shift at the shopping centre. The evacuation alarm stops ringing at 4:03pm. A multi-agency debrief is held at 5:30pm between police, ambulance and Westfield officials. An ambulance officer confirms eight people have been taken to hospital, including a baby, many with critical injuries. More than a year after the tragic day, Cauchi's acts and the systemic issues raised continue to devastate the victims' families and friends. Faraz Tahir was remembered as a hero who came from Pakistan in the hope of a better future. Yixuan Cheng, also known as Josie, was studying a Master's degree at the University of Sydney and celebrating after an exam. Pikria Darchia was an artist from Georgia who enjoyed painting landscapes and "cared deeply" about her sons' health and happiness. Jade Young, named by her grandparents, was a "gentle" and "kind-hearted" architect who adored her family and dog, Teddy. Ashlee Good was a new mother and fitness enthusiast who said in a video played to court that "being active is part of who I am". Dawn Singleton was a "private" person and remains loved deeply and fiercely by her friends, parents and partner. State Coroner Magistrate Teresa O'Sullivan said for loved ones, nothing would "take away their pain". "Their emotional fortitude … is a testament not only to their strength and courage, but to their unending love for those beautiful souls."
The Guardian
15-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Joel Cauchi's GP says psychiatrist didn't relay mother's concerns about Bondi Junction mass murderer
A Queensland general practitioner who treated Joel Cauchi for 15 years says he would have been 'very concerned' about a possible decline in his schizophrenic patient's mental health had he been told about concerns raised by his mother. Dr Richard Grundy told the coronial inquest into seven deaths at a Sydney shopping centre in April 2024 that he last saw Cauchi in Toowoomba in August 2019 – when he had been 'reasonably well and stable'. The doctor said on Thursday that had he later been told that Cauchi's mother had concerns about changes in his behaviour after coming off antipsychotic medication, he would have been 'very concerned' about a possible relapse of Cauchi's schizophrenia symptoms. His mother was worried about her son's belief that he was under Satanic control and Cauchi's extreme OCD, compulsive use of porn and changes to his gait, the court has heard. 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. The New South Wales coroners court heard that Cauchi left Toowoomba in March 2020. His psychiatrist, known as Dr A for legal reasons, wrote in a discharge letter to Grundy that Cauchi had moved to Brisbane and was no longer eligible for Skype consultations with Dr A. Under questioning by the senior counsel assisting the coroner, Dr Peggy Dwyer SC, Grundy said he had no reason to suspect that Cauchi needed psychiatric attention, given the letter did not include details about his mother's concerns or that he had been weaned off antipsychotic medication. 'I thought Joel was well,' Grundy told the court from London via video link. He said he 'didn't have any information' regarding the phone calls and messages Cauchi's mother had made to Dr A's private practice about her concerns on seven occasions between October 2019 and February 2020. 'I would have made an attempt to contact him,' he said, adding that he would have also wanted to discuss the behaviour with Cauchi's treating psychiatrist. The wording of Dr A's letter was ambiguous and one sentence in particular - urging the GP to 'recall' Cauchi – could be read in two ways, the court heard. As such, the GP did not take action and assumed Cauchi did not require his care. Grundy said that Cauchi had always managed his own appointments and had been a punctual and compliant patient. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion 'Joel had always been a person who made his own appointments, if he had concerns about any of his health issues ... he would have contacted a GP for assessment and if referral was required, they'd make that referral,' he told the inquest on Thursday. 'He could return to the practice any time he liked. I've never recalled or chased someone up who was living in a different city to get them to come back and see me.' He also said that a phone call Dr A claimed she had made to the GP about Cauchi's ongoing care 'did not happen'. Dr A told the court on Tuesday that she had felt 'totally relieved' after a March 2020 phone conversation in which she and Grundy discussed Cauchi and a possible recall of the patient. But Grundy said on Thursday there was no such phone call. 'If a specialist had a phone consult with me, I would have opened the patient's file and made a note of their concerns, and there's no record of that phone call on file,' he told the inquest, adding he also had no recollection of the call. Dr A claimed to have called Grundy regarding the health of Cauchi on many occasions. Grundy denied ever being called by Dr A.
The Guardian
13-05-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Psychiatrist who weaned Joel Cauchi off schizophrenia medication apologises to Bondi Junction stabbing victims
The psychiatrist who treated Joel Cauchi and helped wean him off his schizophrenia medication has apologised to the families of six people stabbed to death by her former patient in a Sydney shopping centre. The doctor told the New South Wales coroners court in Lidcombe on Tuesday that she treated Cauchi in her private Queensland practice from 2012 to 2020. 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. 'I would like to say to the victims, their families, Joel Cauchi's parents, friends and everybody, that I offer my sincere apologies to you all,' the psychiatrist, known only as Dr A, told the court. 'I'm sharing the pain, it has devastated me personally,' the acute mental health expert said. 'No psychiatrist in the world would wish on themselves for this trauma to happen.' The court on Tuesday was exploring why Cauchi was weaned off his psychotropic medication by 2019 and disengaged from medical care after 2020. When Dr A first saw Cauchi, he reported mental slowness, did not complain of depression, was guarded about his psychotic experiences and open about his poor organisation skills, she said. She initially diagnosed him with chronic paranoid and disorganised schizophrenia, then later modified the diagnosis to first episode schizophrenia. Under questioning by senior counsel Dr Peggy Dwyer SC, the court heard there was some ambiguity around whether the new diagnosis meant Cauchi's schizophrenia was chronic and susceptible to the same rates of relapse. 'In my mind, he was suffering a long episode of first episode schizophrenia,' Dr A said. 'Let's just move on because it is first episode in my mind.' She said she 'hoped' Cauchi would not relapse to the 'terrible' disorganisation, lack of self-care and paranoia symptoms he had when he first developed and was hospitalised for schizophrenia at the age of 17 around 2001. He was taking 550mg of clozapine when he joined the private clinic in February 2012 and had been taking the drug for 10 years previously under the care of public health doctors. On being transferred to the private system, Dr A's strategy was to ascertain whether his 'negative' symptoms, including a blunting effect, lack of joy and amotivation, were caused by the illness or the medicine's side effects. Cauchi was concerned he was over-medicated. 'He was so, so troubled by the side effect,' his former psychiatrist said. Through assessments, she wanted to find 'out what was really going on', she said. They decided on a plan to lower Cauchi's clozapine dose and find an optimal level that balanced his wellness with the drug's side effects. In 2015, Dr A approached a psychiatrist from outside the practice for a second opinion on the plan to lower his clozapine dosage. In a letter shown to the court discussing that meeting, the second psychiatrist said they and Cauchi had discussed the risks and benefits of stopping clozapine. On balance, Cauchi said he wished to continue the slow reduction in the dosage. He agreed that if there was any recurrence of psychosis, the reduction would likely need to be reversed. His mother agreed to support him through the gradual reduction. It was agreed that family members were most likely to recognise early signs of relapse. Sign up to Morning Mail Our Australian morning briefing breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion Dr A said the plan was not to take Cauchi off medication altogether and that he would need to take drugs to control his schizophrenia for the duration of his life. But, in 2018, Cauchi stopped taking Clopine and he ended his OCD medication, Abilify, in 2019. Dr A did not seek a second opinion when ceasing to prescribe the drugs altogether, the court heard. 'I was very confident that he had recovered from the first episode schizophrenia,' she said. When asked whether she took responsibility for Joel coming off Clopine and Avilify, she said: 'It was my decision and his decision.' On Monday, the court heard that despite Cauchi's mother's concerns about a relapse after he came off clozapine, he was not put back onto the medication. 'During my eight years of treatment, he never showed any signs of positive symptoms, never showed signs of any relapse and never showed signs of any issues of safety,' or any interest in weapons, Dr A said on Tuesday. 'Positive' symptoms include delusions, catatonia and disorganised speech and behaviour. Dr A told the court that Cauchi's father had schizophrenia and that the illness was hereditary. Cauchi continued seeing Dr A after he stopped taking medications because, she said, she wanted to support him while he moved out of the family home into his own unit. 'He was going through transitions … I wanted to see through that he would complete those very stressful transitions and stabilise in a new place. That was the plan and Joel knew that and the parents also knew that. 'Once he transitioned to another place … then I would finish and I would refer him to whatever place he needed to go.' However, Cauchi did not transition to a new GP after moving away from his home in Toowoomba in Queensland in March 2020. He was 'effectively lost to follow-up' from then until the attack, the court heard previously.
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- News.com.au
‘Frightened' paramedics commended for ‘phenomenal' response during Westfield Bondi Junction rampage
The first paramedic who entered Westfield Bondi Junction after the fatal rampage, knowing a second offender may have been inside, broke down on the stand in an emotional morning of evidence at an inquest. Six people were killed and 10 others were injured by killer Joel Cauchi in the attack at Westfield Bondi Junction on April 13, 2024. Dawn Singleton, Yixuan Cheng, Faraz Ahmed Tahir, Ashlee Good, Jade Young and Pikria Darchia died in the incident. Inspector Brett Simpson, who was the forward commander and first responding paramedic on the day of the fatal attack, broke down in tears while sitting in court on Friday morning, 'My deepest condolences to you and your families from me. I'd also like to note that a number of my staff and team that were on the day haven't been called to give evidence expressed that I pass on their condolences to you as well. I'm sorry for your losses,' he said through tears. He said he was told there was a slim chance there was a second offender when he arrived on scene about 3.42pm, but decided to go in anyway because he needed to get to the critically ill patients inside. 'I did that because based on the probability of the police officer saying he was fairly confident there was only one offender at that point and that he had been shot, and on the condition of the patients inside,' he said. '(On the) balances of safety and for the patients, I decided to go in.' However, at 4.01pm he heard there may have been a second offender through a police broadcast. 'I started to panic because I thought that I put my staff in quite significant danger,' he said, tearing up. 'A lot of them are my friends, so that was a very difficult moment.' Of course, there was only one offender, which was later confirmed. Paramedics' 'phenomenal' actions He thanked paramedics for their 'phenomenal' actions on the day in an emotional address. 'They were frightened, we were all frightened, but they did not hesitate, they did not question my orders … my directives, they knew that what they were going into was a very serious incident,' he said. 'Not one of them hesitated, not one of them flinched.' He said those working in dispatch 'didn't skip a beat' while co-ordinating and responding. He thanked his senior managers for their support over the last 12 months. 'My discomfort is quite minimal compared to people who lost family and loved ones on that day, but it has not been an easy 12 months,' he said. The court was told some of the paramedics who attended on the day were so committed to their patients they had trouble moving on, which Inspector Simpson agreed with. It is not suggested they did not adequately perform their duties. Inspector Simpson agreed a 10-second triage, which allows for the quick triage of patients, could have been beneficial particularly with resource allocation on the day. The court was told about the system using the term 'category silver' rather than deceased for first responders on scene. 'I wouldn't say that it was a problem, it was definitely a factor in that our crews are very well trained but in a situation like that when their bandwidth is completely and wholly exceeded by the environment they're in, some of them potentially may not have felt comfortable in making that declaration (of deceased),' Inspector Simpson said. 'That's a role that I ended up performing … it was apparent to me that based on their injuries and what I saw of them that was in fact the case and being able to take that burden off of those crews …(so they could) conserve some of their supplies and move on and treat other patients.' Faraz's family thanks paramedic At about 4.28pm the area was officially declared a hot zone and all crews were directed out of the centre. However, it has been made clear on several occasions that this did not have any affect on any patient outcomes, and all patients had been taken out of the centre by then. 'By that stage I was very confident given the discussions I'd had with police locally within the centre, and the fact that there seemed to be no more calls coming through, and no more reports or police physically approaching us saying 'I've got this person',' Inspector Simpson said. 'I was very confident … that we had collected everyone.' A lawyer speaking on behalf of security guard Faraz Tahir's family thanked Inspector Simpson for his courage. 'On behalf of the family of Faraz Tahir, thank you for treating him, thank you for treating every person you did on this day, thank you for your courage shown on this day, and every day,' he said. 'Thank you to every one of the ambulance officers who attended … Thank you to every ambulance officer that you have referred to.' Alarms made communication 'effectively impossible' The volume of the alarms in the centre following the rampage have been described several times during the inquest as being very loud, with Inspector Simpson saying it made communications 'effectively impossible'. 'I can't really do it justice by very loud … it was both a significant physical and mental impedance to basically every activity that was undertaken inside the shopping centre,' he said. 'Even with my microphone or the speaker pushed against my ear at full volume, I couldn't hear anything that was coming (through). 'I couldn't hear or decipher any of the information that was coming through.' This left him to communicate using hand signals with other paramedics and, failing that, having to physically walk up to them. Specialist paramedics 'chronically under resourced' The court was earlier told of rostering problems and issues with accessibility to personal protective equipment for specialist operation team paramedics (SOTs). Inspector Simpson agreed that SOTs were 'chronically under resourced' and supported propositions they become a stand alone unit. He also accepted there needed to be more multi-agency training exercises and noted there were barriers in being able to attend the voluntary exercises and separately more training for active armed offender (AAO) scenarios. He returned to work the day after the Bondi attacks but found it difficult to follow up on the welfare of his colleagues due to the incident file being locked down, as per protocol. It made it difficult to find who had been working the day before, leaving him to effectively 'drive around to hospitals and try and find our staff'. He agreed this was an important learning for the service should there be a similar incident.
