‘Insensitive’: 60 Minutes slammed over segment where grieving father John Singleton called for Bondi attack inquest to be quashed
A TV segment where John Singleton called for the inquest into the fatal Bondi Junction attack to be quashed has been branded “insensitive” in court.
A TV segment in which grieving father John Singleton called for the upcoming coronial inquest into the Bondi Junction stabbing attack to be quashed has been branded as “insensitive” in court.
Dawn Singleton, Yixuan Cheng, Faraz Ahmed Tahir, Ashlee Good, Jade Young and Pikria Darchia were all killed at Bondi Junction on April 13 last year after Joel Cauchi stabbed them.
Several others were injured in the attack before NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott, who was in the area, single-handedly followed Cauchi through the centre and shot him.
Dawn’s father, Mr Singleton, slammed the coronial inquest as “absolutely stupid” in a 60 Minutes segment that aired on Sunday night.
His main concern appeared to be the potential for sensitive CCTV footage to be played over the five week inquest.
However, footage from the shopping centre of the attack was played during the episode, drawing ire from legal representatives in court on Monday.
A directions hearing was held ahead of the inquest on Monday, where Sue Chrysanthou appeared for the Good, Young and Singleton families — though notably not on behalf of Mr Singleton.
She said the three families understood the “mandatory nature” of the inquest and that they supported it.
“They are immensely grateful … for the extreme sensitivity … and kindness shown by the assisting team,” Ms Chrysanthou told the court.
“Including by adding issues to the provisional issues list that you have, we on their behalf are extremely grateful for that co-operation.
“Their lives have been changed in a way that none of us can really comprehend, having not been in their situation.
“Children’s lives have been altered by what occurred, and its important for them to understand if anything else could’ve been done or if any recommendations can be made by you to ensure that if this ever happens again it won’t as impactful on the family as it has been.”
She said the families she represented were “adversely impacted by some members of the media and how they behaved in the minutes, hours and days after the tragedy”.
“They continue to be impacted, including by reason of a broadcast last night by one of Australia’s media companies, and they ask that members of the media reporting on the inquest, reporting on the anniversary which is coming up, take extreme care to address the sensitivities of each family — not just my clients, but the other four families involved.
“It is incomprehensible to us who are not in their shoes to understand how insensitive and inaccurate — in the case of last night’s broadcast, highly inaccurate — media reporting make this process so much worse for them.”
Peggy Dwyer SC told the court “it is not proposed to play any sensitive CCTV or body worn footage in open court”, and said this had been conveyed to families in writing.
She also said it was ironic the program had played graphic footage in the segment on Sunday night.
“A number of families have reported their significant distress at graphic footage being shown in the media — I don’t intend to call out any media outlets in particular…but it is somewhat ironic that the program reporting last night…played some graphic footage, and that is not going to happen in this inquest,” Ms Dwyer said.
A Nine spokesperson said the outlet “stood by the accuracy” of the segment.
“We stand by the accuracy of our story, which was sensitively edited and produced,” the spokesperson said.
“All the families of the victims of this terrible event should have a voice, and that includes John Singleton.
“We will continue to report these matters respectfully and sensitively.”
Ms Dwyer also noted body worn video from Queensland police officers of their final interaction with Cauchi may be played, however warnings will be made so those watching proceedings can elect not to view it.
“There is of course already a significant amount of footage already in the public domain, and most of that footage is not in the brief of evidence — Your Honor cannot suppress that footage,” Ms Dwyer said.
“The court will have to rely on the good sense and thoughtfulness of the media.”
The court was told the families of the victims have requested the “general nature and content of the media response” be looked at throughout the inquest, as well as the impact of the media reporting on the families of those who lost loved ones.
“A number of families have reported their significant distress at graphic footage being shown in the media,” Ms Dwyer told the court.
‘Absolutely stupid’: Singleton pushes to quash coronial inquest
A month-long coronial inquest into the fatal attack is slated to kick off at the end of the month, which Mr Singleton has branded as “absolutely stupid” in an urgent plea for it to be called off.
He said nearly a year on he was able to forget about the tragedy for certain periods before it all came rushing back, indicating the inquest could exacerbate the pain for himself and other loved ones of the victims.
“Now to have four weeks of an unnecessary coronial inquiry — it’s just absolutely stupid,” Mr Singleton told the program.
“I think it’s just a waste of time, if it’s going to prove anything at all.”
He questioned what findings the inquest was seeking, and why the privacy of the victims’ loved ones should “be upset by an inquiry”.
“Cauchi) kills these people, he gets killed. End of story. What else do they want to find out? For four weeks?” Mr Singleton said.
The inquest will take place between April 28 and May 30, examining who died, when and where they died, the cause of their death, and the circumstances surrounding their deaths, according to the state coroner’s website.
NSW State Coroner Magistrate Teresa O’Sullivan will be assisted by a team of Crown solicitors and barristers during the inquest, and may make recommendations “in relation to any matter connected with the death”, including recommendations related to public health and safety.
Singleton fears footage of attack may be played in court
Mr Singleton’s push to quash the inquest stems from fear sensitive CCTV or police body worn camera footage may be played in court or released to the public.
“Why do you have to include the actual killings? You want the knife going in? Do you want the blood? It’s like the first five minutes of Taxi Driver,” he said.
“To live through again, the macabre footage as they’re all being stabbed and dying. That is absolutely unwanted in this case.”
Only speaking for himself, and not on behalf of any of the other victims’ families, Mr Singleton said no one would benefit from the inquest.
He also warned the release of footage could pave the way for “copycat killings”.
“Dismiss it,” he said.
The program reported in a letter to Mr Singleton, shared with 60 Minutes, the Coroner indicated there weren’t any plans to play sensitive footage in the court at this stage.
However, Mr Singleton called for a more firm guarantee.
“If they get rid of all the private footage, the CCTV footage, of these people who were killed and the actual killing, then let them proceed and waste their time and money,” he said.
NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley said the inquest was mandatory because it relates to death during a police operation.
“I understand where Mr Singleton is coming from and cannot imagine what he and all the other families and friends of victims have been going through,” Mr Daley said in a statement to NewsWire.
“(The inquest) will be conducted in a way that is trauma informed, and families have been supported by NSW Police family liaison officers and staff from the Coroners Court.
“Coronial inquests are important to consider if there are mechanisms or systemic changes that might prevent future deaths and improve public safety in similar circumstances.
“It is possible that such recommendations might result from the inquest into the Bondi Junction attack.”
Ms Singleton was just 25 when she went to the Bondi Junction shopping centre to shop for her upcoming wedding to her childhood sweetheart.
Mr Singleton also opened up about losing his daughter nearly a year after she was killed in the Bondi Junction attack, revealing he now cries when the lights go out at the movies and has stopped drinking.
He described his daughter as a “beautiful little girl” who “beamed with happiness”in a gut-wrenching interview with Tracy Grimshaw on 60 Minutes on Sunday evening.
“I used to call her Dawnie Perfect … she was just perfect,” Mr Singleton told the program.
“No one could speak ill of Dawnie because she, in many ways, she was too soft for this world.
“And to see someone so gentle and vulnerable have her life concluded like this, it probably makes it 10 times worse.”
Mr Singleton said he was “doing all right” following her death, but that he can no longer sit in the dark at the movies.
“I can’t go to the movies anymore, because as soon as the lights go out, I cry,” he said, telling Grimshaw he hadn’t seen a psychiatrist but instead talks to his dog.
“I don’t know why that is.
“I’ve stopped going to movies. I used to drink my way out of it. Now, I don’t drink,” he said.
He said he helped Dawn find her perfect wedding dress in the two weeks prior to her death, while Dawn had ordered him a jacket from Australian fashion designer Camilla Franks to wear while he walked her down the aisle.
“She got me this jacket, it’s got two, fighting tigers on the back, like a Mike Tyson sort of jacket,” Mr Singleton said.
“I don’t think it will ever be worn. I think it’ll be hung up next to the bridal gown.”
The grieving father questioned why his daughter needed to go shopping that day, and why she had died while he lived on.
“If there is a God, get him in the witness box too,” he said.
“I’ve got some questions I’d like to ask him.”
Inquest to probe mental health system
Cauchi, originally from Queensland, was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 17, however his mental health appeared to have declined over the last few years.
Grimshaw told Mr Singleton she believed the Coroner would look at how Cauchi fell through the cracks in Australia’s mental health system, and talk with his treating psychiatrists and police who interacted with him.
“That’s all good. It doesn’t need a coroner,” Mr Singleton replied.
He said he would welcome findings about the country’s mental health system and questions about Cauchi’s mental health treatment, but questioned what playing footage from the day of the attack had to do with it.
Cauchi’s father, Andrew, earlier told the ABC he’d found his son with US Army combat knives when he moved back home in 2023.
He confiscated them, however Cauchi called the police claiming his father had stolen them.
In a transcript from a directions hearing last November, Peggy Dwyer SC told the court Cauchi’s family told police they had confiscated the knives because they were worried about “the deterioration of their son’s mental state” and that he had long-term schizophrenia and was no longer medicated.
“I expect the evidence to be that police officers did not consider that they had a basis to detain Mr Cauchi involuntarily under the Mental Health Act at that time, but instead they spoke to him about the fact that his parents had taken the knives because they were worried about his mental health,” Ms Dwyer told the court.
Ms Dwyer said she expected evidence to be that an officer sent an email to a Queensland Police unit specialising in mental health raising concerns over Cauchi’s mental health, while a “Be On The Lookout” flag was placed on Cauchi the following month after he again made a complaint to police over claims his father had stolen his knives.
When asked by Grimshaw if he wanted to know why such an incident wasn’t a “red flag to the police”, Mr Singleton replied “of course”.
“As I’ve said, if they’re going to leave out the sick, macabre, ghoulish footage of the deaths, of the killings … questions like that are more than proper,” he said.
He also said Cauchi being left to “wander around the streets” given his mental health issues suggested “the system needs a hard look”.
‘Loving a monster’: Sympathy for Cauchi’s parents
Following the attack, Cauchi’s mother, Michele, said her heart went out to the families of the people her son had hurt, while his father, Andrew, called the attack “horrendous”.
“I don’t know why he would do this, I’ve done everything I can to help him,” Mr Cauchi told reporters at the time.
“He’s my son and I’m loving a monster. For you, he’s a monster. To me, he was a very sick boy.”
Mr Singleton said he had sympathy for Cauchi’s parents, who would feel “as bad” as he did.
Mr Singleton confirmed to the program he wouldn’t be petitioning the court to suppress the footage, telling Grimshaw he had “no faith” in the law.
A directions hearing for the inquest will take place on Monday.
A transcript from the last directions hearing stated the team assisting in the inquest would “continue to work with the families and other stakeholders involved in the inquest with a view to ensuring the expeditious and thorough process conducted in a trauma informed manner that will prove much needed answers”.
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