Bitter family rift revealed as Bondi Junction massacre relatives SLAM John Singleton for TV special about his daughter’s death – and her fiancé launches legal action against Nine

A bitter family rift has emerged between relatives of victims of the Westfield Bondi Junction massacre after ad tycoon John Singleton spoke out about his daughter Dawn Singleton, who was the first killed in the bloody attack.

Singleton appeared on the Nine’s 60 Minutes show on Sunday to call for an inquest into the tragedy to be called off as it would further traumatise the victims’ families.

But on Monday, it was revealed families of the victims, except for the ad tycoon, had recruited top defamation barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC to represent them.

At a brief directions hearing on Monday for the upcoming inquest, Ms Chrysanthou, said Sunday night’s program displayed ‘highly inaccurate media reporting’.

‘The families understand the mandatory nature of this inquest and they support it,’ she said in court. 

‘Their lives have been changed in a way that none of us can really comprehend. 

‘Children’s lives have been altered. It is important for them to understand if anything else could be done.’ 

Ms Chrysanthou added the families were ‘very adversely impacted by some members of the media in hours and days after the tragedy occurred’. 

Lawyer Sue Chrysanthou SC (pictured) said Sunday night’s TV special displayed ‘highly inaccurate media reporting’

John Singleton (pictured), father of 25-year-old victim Dawn Singleton, appeared on the program on Sunday urging that the inquest not take place

Dawn Singleton was one of six shoppers killed in Westfield Bondi Junction last April

Ms Chrysanthou told the court she is representing the families of stabbing victims Ashlee Good, Jade Young and Dawn Singleton (except her father John Singleton) at the hearings.

‘They continue to be impacted by a broadcast last night by a media company and ask that those reporting on the inquest take extreme care to address sensitivities of all families,’ she added.

Senior Counsel assisting the inquest, Dr Peggy Dwyer SC, also said that it was ‘somewhat ironic that last night’s program played graphic footage’. In the 60 Minutes interview, Mr Singleton had insisted he didn’t want footage of the attack used at the inquest.

‘That graphic footage will not be played in this inquest. It is not in the brief of evidence,’ Ms Dwyer said. 

It comes as Ashley Wildey, the fiancé of Dawn Singleton, lauched legal action against the Nine Network.

A hearing at the Supreme Court of NSW has been set down for Wednesday. The nature of the dispute is unclear. 

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Ms Chrysanthou for comment.

Dawn was due to marry Mr Wildey, a NSW police officer and her high school sweetheart, before she was killed along with five other shoppers in Westfield Bondi Junction last April when knifeman Joel Cauchi, 40, went on a stabbing rampage. 

It comes as a legal action between Ashley Wildey (pictured right), the fiance of Dawn Singleton (pictured left), was set down for a hearing on Wednesday in the Supreme Court Sydney

Mr Wildey rushed to the shopping centre to assist police colleagues only to discover his fiancé was among the victims. 

One of Mr Singleton’s daughters, Daisy Singleton, also criticised his TV appearance, posting to 60 Minutes’ Instagram account that he had ‘no business speaking about (Dawn) on national TV while (her) family is grieving’.

Daisy also claimed Mr Singleton had done the interview ‘despite all the family begging him not to’.

Daisy is one of Mr Singleton’s eight children from seven failed marriages. She is his youngest child, born after Dawn to mother Julie Martin.  

The four-week coronial inquest into the attack is due to begin at the end of this month, but Mr Singleton has repeatedly pleaded for it to be called off.

He said the inquiry would simply resurface the tragedy for grieving families of the victims.

‘It’s just absolutely stupid. I think it’s just a waste of time, if it’s going to prove anything at all,’ he told 60 Minutes. 

Mr Singleton was worried that CCTV or police bodycam footage of the attack might be released during the inquest.

One of Mr Singleton’s daughters, Daisy Singleton (pictured), also criticised his TV appearance

‘Why do you have to include the actual killings? You want the knife going in? Do you want the blood?’

NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley has confirmed that an inquest is mandatory because the deaths occurred during a police operation. Mr Daley insisted the inquest would be conducted in a way that is ‘trauma informed’.

The Coroner has indicated to Mr Singleton that there are no plans to play distressing footage in court at this stage.

But Mr Singleton said he wanted authorities to ‘get rid’ of any footage of the attack.

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