A psychiatrist who treated the man behind a fatal stabbing rampage at a crowded Sydney shopping centre has been referred to health investigators following a coronial inquiry.
Joel Cauchi, first diagnosed with schizophrenia in his teens, was unmedicated and homeless when he stabbed 16 people inside Westfield Bondi Junction in 2024, resulting in six deaths.
The New South Wales coroner stated that Dr. Andrea Boros-Lavack provided exemplary care to 40-year-old Cauchi over many years but failed to act on warnings from his family that he might be relapsing, which contributed to the attack.
Among those killed during the rampage were Dawn Singleton, 25; Yixuan Cheng, 27; Jade Young, 47; Ashlee Good, 38; Faraz Tahir, 30; and Pikria Darchia, 55. Ten others were injured during the three minutes of chaos before police shot Cauchi dead.
The coroner's findings pointed to systemic issues involving police and shopping centre security, along with the missed opportunities for intervention that could have potentially saved lives.
During the inquest, the coroner emphasized the need for better mental health services and response mechanisms to prevent similar tragedies in the future. O'Sullivan called for corrections in protocols, including a public awareness campaign and improved mental health resources.
The tragic events have sparked conversations around mental health care and safety, highlighting critical failures that need to be addressed to avoid future acts of violence.
