It took just three minutes for Joel Cauchi to stab six people to death and injure 10 others during a rampage at a popular shopping mall in Sydney, an investigation into the attack has revealed.
The New South Wales Coroner’s Court heard on Tuesday that Cauchi, 40, was mentally ill and homeless at the time of the incident, and had come out of his schizophrenia, prompting his parents to take away his hunting knives.
The investigation also heard that no alarm went off inside the facility until after Cauchi was shot and killed by the police.
The April 13 incident shocked Australia, where mass killings are rare, and sparked a national conversation about gender-based violence.
In all, 14 of the 17 people stabbed that day were women – including five of the six killed, including a nine-month-old baby. The NSW Police Commissioner said at the time it was “obvious” that Cauchi was targeting women.
Tuesday’s hearing set the focus areas for a comprehensive inquiry due to begin in full in April 2025. The inquiry will look into possible safety lapses and failures in mental health systems in NSW and Queensland, Cauchi’s home state.
Speaking in court, Dr Peggy Dwyer SC, counsel assisting the coroner, said Cauchi had been off psychotropic medication since 2019, despite authorities being repeatedly warned of his deteriorating condition. Cauchi had come to the “attention” of Queensland police on several occasions, he said.
In his statement, Dwyer also provided the first detailed timeline of how the violence unfolded in Bondi that day.
He said Cauchi – who was fast asleep in the suburbs of Maroubra on the morning of the attack – entered the Westfield shopping center at around 15.30, and began stabbing people about three minutes later, after pulling a knife out of a queue at a bakery. .
His first victim was Dawn Singleton, 25, followed by 47-year-old Jade Young and 25-year-old Yixuan Cheng. He then attacked Ashlee Good, 38, from behind.
Good – described by her family as “a great person” – then saw Cauchi stab her 9-month-old baby girl in her pram, and was injured again trying to save the child’s life, the court heard.
Faraz Tahir, a 30-year-old security guard, was stabbed next, along with his colleagues. Those who watched at the time said he died “trying to save others”.
Cauchi stabbed and killed Pikria Darchia, 55, before he was shot dead by NSW Police Insp Amy Scott, who was on duty next to him. More than a minute had passed between Scott’s arrival and the time he killed Cauchi, the court heard.
In total, the attack lasted five minutes and 43 seconds – however no alarm was raised during that time.
“At this point it’s unclear why it took so long for the alarm to go off,” Dwyer said.
Before opening the hearing, Crown Coroner Teresa O’Sullivan acknowledged the pain and loss the wider community was still feeling as a result of the violence.
“My condolences to the family and loved ones who are in court today and to those who cannot come in person,” he told the court, according to Guardian Australia.
“It’s important to me and my support team… that you feel safe, you feel listened to and you feel cared for throughout this process.”
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