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Inquest to examine Bondi Junction Westfield stabbing attack to stop similar incidents
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Inquest to examine Bondi Junction Westfield stabbing attack to stop similar incidents

The man behind the stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction had stopped seeking treatment for serious mental health problems years before the horrific attack. court It was said.
Joel Cauchi stabbed six people to death and injured nearly a dozen others during a violent demonstration at the mall on Saturday. Sydney’s eastern suburbs In April.

The investigation will examine the circumstances of the attack in order to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again.

The man behind a stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction stopped seeking treatment for serious mental health problems years before the horrific attack, a court has heard. (Dion Georgopoulos)

It will look at issues including whether any intervention could have prevented Cauchi’s mental health from deteriorating as much as it did before the attack, which ended with him being shot dead.

The case reached the courtroom for the first time today; At the first instructions hearing, a general assessment was made of many issues on the agenda ahead of the investigation planned to be held in April and May 2025.

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.

Bondi Junction stabbing victims Yixuan Cheng, Pikria Darchia, Faraz Tahir, Ashlee Good, Dawn Singleton, Jade Young
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. (Nine)

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.

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.’

stabbing bondi
The investigation will examine the circumstances of the attack in order to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring again. (Dion Georgopoulos)

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 aim of saving lives in the future.”

Dwyer said there is significant public interest in how major companies like Scentre Group, which operates the mall, are 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.