Joel Cauchi’s psychiatrist chokes back tears as she apologises to the families ripped apart by Bondi Junction attack

The psychiatrist who took Joel Cauchi off his medication years before he stabbed 16 people in a busy shopping centre has tearfully apologised to his victims. 

Joel Cauchi, 40, was experiencing psychotic symptoms in April 2024 when he killed six shoppers at Sydney’s Westfield Bondi Junction and injured 10 others.

The inquest into the attack resumed on Tuesday with a Queensland psychiatrist issuing a tearful apology to the families of the victims, Cauchi and everyone affected.

‘I offer my sincere apologies to you that this tragedy has happened,’ she said. 

‘I am aware that no words will ease the profound pain and suffering.’

She told the NSW Coroners Court she had been personally affected by the attacks, which had impacted her life and health.

‘No psychiatrist in the world would wish on themselves for this trauma to happen,’ she said.

Counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC is expected to ask the psychiatrist, who cannot be legally identified, about her treatment of Cauchi.

Joel Cauchi, 40, was experiencing psychotic symptoms on the day he stabbed six people

Cauchi’s parents Andrew (pictured, left) and Michele (pictured, right) were divided on whether their son should resume anti-psychotic medicine

This would cover the decision to stop his anti-psychotics in 2019 and what could have been done after Cauchi’s mother raised concerns about a decline in his mental health.

His mother, Michele Cauchi, first flagged his worsening symptoms three months after he was weaned off the medication, the inquest was told on Monday.

While he presented well afterwards, potential signs of relapse surfaced, a treating nurse said.

Cauchi’s father, Andrew, however, was ‘adamant’ about his son not resuming anti-psychotics. 

His father said he ‘had been traumatised by demons when awake and hears voices and is not on medication’, a nurse’s note read to the coroner said.

Cauchi was diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager after experiencing hallucinations but was successfully treated for decades.

He was a ‘high-functioning’ schizophrenic with a university degree, coming top in his class, and could speak German and Mandarin, his mother later told police.

The psychiatrist’s decision to take Cauchi off two medications by June 2019 followed his complaints about the drugs’ side effects.

Knifeman Joel Cauchi (pictured) had been weaned off his antipsychotics in 2019 after he complained about the medicines’ side effects

Bondi Junction victims pictured L-R: Ashlee Good, 38, security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, Jade Young, 47, Dawn Singleton, 25, Pakria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 27

Two nurses have already given evidence about Cauchi’s treatment, and both have said he did not present with any serious symptoms during appointments.

But his mother had told them he was hearing voices, expressing sleeplessness, and experiencing extreme obsessive-compulsive disorder.

While the nurses did initial consultations with Cauchi and sometimes his family, it was the psychiatrist who prescribed his medication and formed a treatment plan.

In early 2020, near the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, Cauchi moved to Brisbane.

While some attempt was made to arrange remote appointments, these were not covered by Medicare, the inquest heard.

A referral letter was sent to Cauchi’s GP, but no follow-up was organised with mental health services in the city.

His rampage at the Westfield shopping centre in 2024 was brought to an end after he was shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott.

The hearing continues.

Lifeline at 13 11 14 or beyondblue at 1300 22 4636.

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