John Singleton issues plea on Bondi stabbing coronial inquest after daughter’s death

John Singleton, father of Bondi stabbing victim Dawn Singleton, is pleading for the coronial inquest into the tragedy to be shelved. Here’s why.

John Singleton is pleading for the Bondi Junction inquest to be shelved. The father of Bondi stabbing victim Dawn Singleton says: “We can’t stand reliving this again”.

The father of Bondi stabbing victim Dawn Singleton is pleading for the coronial inquest into the tragedy to be shelved, saying the month-long hearing will do nothing but further torture the six victims’ loved ones and rehash their “unimaginable pain and grief”.

“We can’t stand reliving this again,” multi-millionaire advertising executive John Singleton told the Sunday Telegraph.

“If it was going to bring some justice I would understand but it can’t, it’s just so unfair,” he said.

John Singleton has made an emotional plea to the Bondi Junction Inquest. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“No good can come of making the details of this public all over again, the CCTV footage images, we all know what happened and who did it and he’s gone, there’s nothing to gain.”

Mr Singleton is urging Attorney General Michael Daley to intervene.

“Coronial inquests are for all the unsolved murders, focus on them, not this one; It helps no one feeds a room full of lawyers,” he said.

He also said he thinks it would be “disgraceful” if the inquest goes ahead.

“We can’t go through this all over again. And for what? Dawnie is gone and we can’t get her back.”

Twenty-five-year-old Dawn, four other women and one man were killed when 40-year-old Joel Cauchi stabbed them during a rampage through the shopping centre on April 13 last year. The horror only stopped when hero cop Amy Scott shot him dead.

His other victims were Ashlee Good, 38, Pikria Darchia, 55, Jade Young, 47, Yixuan Cheng, 27, and Faraz Tahir, 30.

Dawn Singleton was one of six victims in the Bondi Junction attack. Picture: Supplied

Mr Singleton said he would understand if there were unanswered questions but “police acted incredibly” in the face of the shopping centre terror, and there were “more than one heroes that day and no criticisms of any of the emergency services who risked their lives”.

Dawn’s fiance childhood sweetheart, Ashley Wildey, a NSW police officer, was on call when he learned of an incident unfolding in the shopping centre where his fiance had gone to buy things for their upcoming wedding day.

“Dawnie’s fiance visits the grave every day, one of Dawnie’s sisters has finished a medical degree and has to start a career with that horrible weight on her shoulders,” Mr Singleton said.

“I’ve been around long enough I guess I can get through this, my worry is for Dawnie’s mother and sisters. All the worry, all the hurt, it’s not going to have a positive effect on anyone.”

Dawnie is one of three daughters from the marriage between Singleton and his sixth wife, Julie Martin.

Floral tributes at Bondi Junction following the Bondi stabbing attacks. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Swift

Lawyers represeting other members of Dawn’s family were contacted but offered no comment.

The directions hearings for the upcoming coronial inquest is scheduled for April 7, with the inquest - expected to last four weeks - set down for April 28.

The inquest will primarily be held in open court, meaning members of the public can attend.

Select portions of the hearing will be live streamed, including Counsel Assisting’s opening address, and the State Coroner’s findings.

According to the Coroners Court of NSW website the inquest will relate to the deaths of seven people during the incident that occurred at Westfield Shopping Centre, Bondi Junction on 13 April 2024.

The NSW State Coroner, Magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan, will be assisted by a team of solicitors from the NSW Crown Solicitor’s Office and barristers known as Counsel Assisting.

The State Coroner’s role is to establish in relation to each person: Who died; When and where they died; The cause of death; and the manner of death.

If the State Coroner considers it necessary, she may “make recommendations in relation to any matter connected with the death. For example, recommendations may be made in relation to public health and safety”.

Mr Singleton pleaded with authorities to “see sense” and allow grieving families to put the tragedy behind them and start to rebuild their lives.

The Attorney General has been contacted for comment.

Originally published as John Singleton issues plea on Bondi stabbing coronial inquest after daughter’s death