Bondi Junction Westfield stabbing: Victims identified
The sixth victim of the horror Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attack has been named, with an on-duty security guard, Sydney architect, first-time mum Ash Good and the daughter of millionaire businessman earlier identified.
NSW
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Six people are dead after a stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney’s east.
The killer, a 40-year-old man known to police, was shot dead by a lone female police officer.
Five of the victims — four women and a man — died at the busy centre on Saturday afternoon and another woman died from her injuries in hospital.
YIXUAN CHENG
The sixth victim of the Bondi Junction stabbing attack has been identified as a Chinese national who was believed to be studying in Australia.
Yixuan Cheng has been named as the sixth person to have died at the hands of Joel Cauchi’s frenzied stabbing attack at the Westfield shopping centre.
It is believed Ms Cheng has no relatives in Australia and is the last of the victims to be identified.
According to Chinese media, Ms Cheng was studying for a master’s degree in economics at the University of Sydney.
On Saturday, she had finished exams and went to the shopping centre in Sydney’s eastern suburbs to try on some clothes.
News.com.au reports her fiance in China, known only as Mr Wang, told a Chinese publication he had spoken to Ms Cheng on WeChat just moments before the attack unfolded.
“She happily talked to me on the phone at around 3 in the afternoon. She even tried on clothes for me to see,” he said.
“Unexpectedly, after hanging up the phone, a stabbing incident occurred.”
PIKRIA DARCHIA
Pikria Darchia has been named as the fifth stabbing victim.
The 55-year-old Bondi Junction woman was killed on Saturday along with five other shoppers at the Westfield complex.
FARAZ TAHIR
Pakistani refugee Faraz Tahir has been identified as the fourth victim of the Bondi Junction massacre.
The 30-year-old security guard was on duty at the Westfield complex when he was knifed by Joel Cauchi during his crazed killing spree.
Mr Tahir came to Australia a year ago after seeking refuge from persecution in his home country.
Ahmadiyya Muslim Community Australia released a statement in tribute to Mr Tahir.
“It is with heavy hearts that we also mourn the loss of Faraz Tahir, a cherished member of our community and a dedicated security guard who tragically lost his life while serving the public during this attack,” the statement read.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Faraz’s family and loved ones during this difficult time, as well as with all the other victims and their families affected by this senseless act of violence.
“We extend our deepest condolences and stand in solidarity with the broader community as we come together to support one another in the face of tragedy.”
A spokesperson for the Ahmadiyya Muslim community Mirza Sharif said the community were devastated by Mr Tahir’a death.
He said Saturday was Mr Tahira’s first day working at Bondi Westfield and that ever since arriving in Australia he had fallen in love with the country and tried to be involved in any way to give back to the community.
“He had only just celebrated Eid with his family and was planning to celebrate his 31st birthday later this month,” Mr Sharif said. “We are devastated by his loss.”
JADE YOUNG
A Sydney architect and mother-of-two has been identified among the victims of the Bondi Junction massacre.
Jade Young, from Bellevue Hill, died during the frenzied attack on Saturday night.
Ms Young is a much-loved member of the Bronte Surf Club where friends gathered on Sunday morning to comfort each other as news spread.
In light of the circumstances, the Club posted a statement saying weekly drinks were cancelled, and encouraged members to seek help if they needed it.
“This is and will be a difficult time for the community, and we encourage you to seek support from family, friends, fellow Club members or to speak to your GP to assist you in processing this tragedy,” the Club said in a statement.
“We are here to support the community, and our heartfelt condolences go out to everyone affected.”
Ms Young worked for a Double Bay architectural firm.
ASH GOOD
First-time mum Ash Good, 38, was pushing her nine-month-old daughter Harriet in a pram through Westfield at Bondi Junction, when the knifeman leant inside and stabbed the baby girl. Then he turned his fury on her.
Two men, who are brothers, heard Ms Good’s screams before she ran to them, holding her injured baby out in front, and begged them to help.
“She handed us the baby and said ‘please help, help’,” one of the men said.
“She was bleeding from her head, her face … the baby was bleeding,” he said.
The men used clothes from a nearby store to compress the bleeding.
Paramedics rushed Ms Good to St Vincent’s Hospital under police escort, but she tragically died shortly after arriving.
Her distraught family paid tribute to a “beautiful mother, daughter, sister, partner and all round outstanding human” on Sunday morning.
“We appreciate the well wishes and thoughts of members of the Australian public who have
expressed an outpouring of love for Ashlee and our baby girl,” the family said.
“We can report that after hours of surgery yesterday our baby is currently doing well.”
The family also thanked the brothers who “cared for our baby when Ashlee could not - words cannot express our gratitude”.
DAWN SINGLETON
The daughter of millionaire businessman John Singleton is among the victims of the horror Westfield Bondi Junction stabbing attack.
Dawn Singleton was killed as she walked through the busy shopping centre on Saturday afternoon.
Dawn is one of three daughters Singleton had during his marriage to lawyer Julie Martin.
The 25-year-old was due to marry a NSW Police officer in the coming months, having been together since high school.
“They are childhood sweethearts, each other’s first boyfriend and girlfriend,” a source said.
Dawn is one of five women, and six victims in total, to be killed in the Westfield attack at the hands of Cauchi.
Her father John Singleton, a longtime racehorse breeder and owner, named his filly Dawnie Perfect after his daughter.
“Everyone says the filly is named after Dawn Fraser but that isn’t right,’’ Singleton told The Daily Telegraph in 2015.
“She is named after my 17-year-old daughter, Dawnie, and I think she is perfect. Her dream is to open a beauty salon one day and call it Dawnie Perfect — so there you have it.’’
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Originally published as Bondi Junction Westfield stabbing: Victims identified
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