‘Shameful’: Mother of Bondi victim Jade Young hits out at sharing of violent images

The mother of Bondi stabbing victim Jade Young says the way her family found out about her death was “shameful”.

The mother of Bondi stabbing victim Jade Young has hit out at the “shameful” behaviour of media companies and social media platforms in the wake of the massacre.

Ms Young, 47, was one of six people killed when Joel Cauchi went on a violent stabbing rampage at Bondi Junction Westfield on April 13.

Graphic images from the scene immediately circulated online and on live TV.

Elizabeth Young, writing in The Sydney Morning Herald on Wednesday, said it was “shameful” how her family found out about Jade’s death.

“Members of my family recognised Jade and her husband Noel in uncensored vision being played on a mainstream TV news feed, with vision of Jade lying on the ground at the shopping centre, receiving CPR,” she wrote.

“The vision, shared on social media and picked up — and used by — multiple news media programs shared my daughter’s final moments with millions. Finding out that a loved one has been murdered is a horror that I do not wish on anyone. But seeing the vision of their last moments and knowing it has been broadcast to millions of people is an appalling breach of privacy and an insult to human dignity.”

Jade Young, 47, an acclaimed architect and mother-of-two, was killed in the April 13 stabbing attack at Bondi Junction Westfield. Picture: Supplied

Days after the Bondi attack, Assyrian Christian Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed by an alleged Islamic teen terrorist during a live-streamed sermon in Sydney’s west.

The back-to-back violent incidents sparked an escalating legal battle between Elon Musk’s “free speech” social media platform X and the Australian government, which demanded the footage be censored.

Elizabeth Young said some of the same media organisations that shared violent images of the Bondi stabbing “approached our family within hours of the attack, offering their condolences … and the opportunity to share our family’s story”.

“These same media organisations reported the failure of a certain popular social media platform to take down videos, without acknowledging their own complicity,” she said.

“I am not surprised at their hypocrisy, but I am angry.”

She took aim at X, saying it had offered empty condolences to the victims while “at the same time accusing the eSafety Commissioner of being the Australian censorship commissar”.

“Sharing violent images or personal material from the lives of victims of crime is not free speech — it is enormously profitable for some but it’s speech with a steep price for the victims,” she said.

Elizabeth Young says it is ‘shameful’ that her family found out about Jade’s death by seeing her on uncensored vision played on live TV. Picture: Monique Harmer/NCA NewsWire

“Those who run social media platforms are remote from the pain inflicted by their uploads and the dystopia they have helped create. It is the victims who bear the cost.”

Last week, hundreds of mourners attended a public memorial for Ms Young, an acclaimed architect and mother-of-two, in the Calyx at Sydney’s Botanic Gardens.

Mourners were encouraged to wear colourful clothing “in memory of Jade”, and the sea of bright dresses and coloured dress shirts was testament to her wishes being fulfilled.

“Dearly loved and irreplaceable wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and beloved friend to many,” her obituary read.

“Taken too soon. Forever in our hearts.”

In a statement issued by the family, they said her death has “shattered our world”.

“While we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from friends and the community, Jade’s death has left a gaping hole in our lives,” the statement said.

“Her children were her life, and we do not want their future to be shaped by her death.”

Bondi stabbing victims Jade Young, Dawn Singleton, Ashlee Good, Cheng Yixuan, Faraz Ahmed Tahir, Jade Young and Pikria Darchia. Picture: Supplied

A GoFundMe page has raised more than $300,000 to provide the family with some financial support while they grieve her death.

Her friend Nicole Roma said she was a “special soul” who “touched so many lives”.

Earlier on Tuesday, about 200 surfers paddled out beyond the surf of Bondi Beach for a moment in silence in honour of the six victims.

The ring of boards set a poignant scene on the famous beachfront as locals began their day.

The architectural firm where Ms Young worked for more than a decade Georgina Wilson Associates paid tribute to her on their Instagram page.

“I can’t even believe I am writing this, it doesn’t feel real. Jade was part of our GWA team for over 12 years. She was family,” the post said.

“Anyone who knew Jade knew what a beautiful, kind and warm soul she was. We are completely devastated. All our love goes out to her family. We love you Jade.”

The five other victims of the stabbing attack include Dr Ashlee Good, 38, Dawn Singleton, 25, Cheng Yixuan, 27, Pikria Darchia, 55 and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30.

Another 12 people were stabbed during the attack.

— with NCA NewsWire

Originally published as ‘Shameful’: Mother of Bondi victim Jade Young hits out at sharing of violent images