Bondi Junction stabbings: ‘10 seconds warning’ from security could have saved lives, inquest hears | Bondi Junction stabbings

A court heard Joel Cauchi could have taken evasive action to save her life if new mother Ashlee Good had been given “even 10 seconds of warning” when he began his stabbing spree at Westfield Bondi Junction.

Schizophrenic Cauchi, 40, killed Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Yixuan Cheng, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55, Dawn Singleton, 25, and Faraz Tahir, 30, and injured 10 others, before being shot dead by police inspector Amy Scott at Westfield Bondi Junction.

As the inquest into the seven deaths concluded, the New South Wales coroner’s court heard that families of those killed by Westfield owner Scentre Group and security group Glad were “not only disappointed but outraged” after failing to accept that the sole control room operator, known as CR1, was not qualified to be in the position on the day.

It emerged during the five-week trial in May that CR1 was using the toilet when the attack began. The first emergency declaration on the Tannoy in Westfield was made long after Cauchi was shot and killed.

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Sue Chrysanthou SC, representing the Good, Young and Singleton families, said in her oral submission on Friday afternoon: “Cr1 should never have been in that chair unsupervised that day.”

“If a person in authority had seen Dawn being stabbed on CCTV and raised the alarm… then Ashlee Good could have taken some sort of action to save herself,” he said.

“It was in the elevator,” he continued. If he had “had even 10 seconds of warning,” he could have taken evasive action, including staying in the elevator.

Senior consultant assisting the coroner, Dr. Peggy Dwyer SC said CR1 was competent in his role in some respects but should not have been solely responsible for the CCTV control room.

Darchia family lawyer Daniel Roff echoed Chrysanthou’s sentiments, saying: “No alarm was raised, certainly not the right alarm. Ms. Darchia could have taken evasive action, but she was denied the opportunity.”

Dean Jordan SC, representing Westfield Bondi Junction owner Scentre Group, said earlier on Friday that some criticism of CR1’s performance was “harsh” and that there was consistent evidence to show it was competent and did not require ongoing supervision.

Chrysanthou also targeted Cauchi’s psychiatrist, Dr Andrea Boros-Lavack. While he accepted that the Toowoomba doctor had “ultimately” admitted that handing Cauchi over to the GP was inadequate, he said the “belated” admission “does not negate the lack of judgment and insight that Dr Boros-Lavack demonstrated throughout this investigation”.

He said his discharge was “not only below average” but also “much worse than that.” The “cheerful letter” was misleading and “represented a healthy patient,” and this was later stated repeatedly by other doctors for years.

He said his behavior required the coroner to refer Boros-Lavack to the health regulator.

On Tuesday, Dwyer also suggested the health regulator could investigate the psychiatrist further if the coroner directs the matter. On Friday, his lawyer, Mark Lynch, suggested that families of those killed could make referrals to the regulator themselves.

In response, Chrysanthou asked: “Haven’t they suffered enough?”

“Why would they have to go through another process personally when everything is here in open court?” he added.

Earlier Friday, Lynch said Cauchi’s phone and internet records showed it was “clear” he was seeking cocaine, MDMA and marijuana in late 2023 and early 2024.

Moreover, although cocaine and MDMA were not found on the toxicology report, it was “quite likely” that his relapse into drug use played a role in the day’s events.

The key issue at the hearing was whether Boros-Lavack should have weaned Cauchi from antipsychotic treatment in 2019.

Lynch said that given that Cauchi had not reached the threshold required to medicate him against his will, “it was not open to anyone, no doctor, to force him to take medication.”

“His autonomy had to be respected,” he said.

At one point during the five-week trial in May, the psychiatrist sensationally told the court that he believed Cauchi’s attack had “nothing to do with psychosis” and retracted those comments the next day.

Experts agreed that Cauchi, who was homeless at the time of the attack, was “extremely psychotic” that day. The court was told on Tuesday that Boros-Lavack’s assumption had traumatized the families.

On Friday, Lynch said it was “grossly unfair” to be forced to answer questions about Cauchi’s mental state on the day of the attack, given that his client was not given material from experts and did not treat Cauchi for four years.

Dwyer said this was “wrong” and that all of the evidence was presented to Boros-Lavack.

Lynch said it was “deeply saddening” that families were traumatized by Boros-Lavack’s words, “but in a way [the questions] “It should never have been asked,” he said.

Dwyer was seen nodding in response to the comment.

Lynch also addressed Dwyer’s claim that Boros-Lavack was “combative” while testifying.

Lynch said he was in pain, on medication, was not used to giving evidence and “clearly felt like he was under attack” and added: “He was distressed in the witness box, there’s no question about that.”

O’Sullivan said he hoped the findings would be delivered before the end of the year.