‘What can you do?’: Killer’s parents speak on 12 months of hell

The parents of Joel Cauchi, who changed Sydney forever after going on a deadly stabbing spree, have spoken ahead of a haunting anniversary.

EXCLUSIVE

The mother of Westfield Bondi killer Joel Cauchi has spoken about the family’s anguish, one year on from the horrific tragedy.

Last year on April 13, Cauchi changed Sydney forever when he stabbed and killed six innocent people inside the eastern suburbs shopping centre before being shot by policewoman Amy Scott.

The 40-year-old grew up in Toowoomba and was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 17.

Andrew and Michele Cauchi, the parents of Joel Cauchi, pictured in Toowoomba in 2024. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

Speaking to news.com.au ahead of the one-year anniversary of the mass stabbing, Cauchi’s mother Michele spoke about the gut-wrenching reality of the past 12 months.

“It’s still just all so distressing for us,” she said.

An inquest into the tragedy is scheduled for April 28 and is set to hear how Cauchi gradually stopped taking medication for his schizophrenia in June 2019.

“It’s just so sad, the whole thing, but what can you do,” Ms Cauchi said about her son falling through the gaps of the mental health system.

Ms Cauchi also said her husband Andrew - Cauchi’s father - had also fallen seriously ill over the past year.

Mr Cauchi broke hearts around Australia shortly after the incident, telling reporters through tears that his son was a “tormented soul” and a “very sick boy”.

His parents said Cauchi lived at home until he was 35, but moved to Brisbane after he stopped taking his medication.

“This is so horrendous I can’t even explain it. I’m just devastated, I love my son,” he said at the time.

“If he was in his right mind he would be absolutely devastated at what he has done, but he obviously was not in his right mind, he had been triggered into some kind of psychosis and lost touch with reality.”

The parents also tipped off NSW Police that they believed the stabber was their son after seeing footage of the attack on television.

Bondi killer Joel Cauchi. Picture: Supplied

Cauchi holding a knife seen on CCTV. Picture: Supplied

“My wife said: ‘This looks like Joel,” he said.

“The police then knocked on my door that night to tell us they believe this is Joel, and I said ‘you don’t have to believe it, you can know it’.”

Ms Cauchi told news.com.au the family has been greatly supported throughout the past 12 months by Brisbane-based mental health support organisation Arafmi, who has acted as the couple’s representatives.

Last year, the organisation reached out on behalf of the Cauchis to thank those who had sent them messages of support.

Joel Cauchi's father Andrew Cauchi. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Michele Cauchi, the mother of Joel Cauchi. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

“They thank you for your kind thoughts and the personal message you have sent,” the thank you message sent by Arafmi read.

“The family appreciate the ongoing support they have received from so many people in the community and this includes the message from you.”

Cauchi’s mental health decline

Mr Cauchi previously revealed how, in January 2023, Joel called the police on him after he took away his knives.

Joel had moved back to Toowoomba but had brought six knives with him to the home. Mr Cauchi said he took the knives off his son as he feared for his mental state.

Bondi Junction mass stabbing murderer Joel Cauchi.

“I found these US Army combat knives and I said: ‘Joel you can stay here as long as you like but you are not going to have these in my house’, and so I took them off him,” Mr Cauchi said.

“He rang the police saying I stole his knives. I said: ‘Look I am not having these in my home, I have given them to a mate to look after them’.”

Mr Cauchi said Joel later drove to Tweed Heads to buy a new knife.

“My wife said it was probably for self-protection,” Mr Cauchi said.

“I wish I knew what was in his bloody head.

In December 2023, Cauchi was living in NSW homeless, believed to be staying at Maroubra Beach Pavilion.

Inquest to probe ‘gaps’ in mental health system

An inquest into the Bondi stabbing will take place between April 28 and May 30 and is set to examine “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.

Michele Cauchi, the mother of Joel Cauchi. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

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.

Originally published as ‘What can you do?’: Killer’s parents speak on 12 months of hell