Key Points
- An inquest into the deadly mass stabbing attack at Westfield Bondi Junction in 2024 is scheduled to start 28 April.
- In a pre-inquest hearing it was revealed the inquest has been broadened to examine media coverage of the events.
- Partitions have been set up at the court to allow families to arrive and leave without being disturbed by media.
An inquest into the deadly Bondi Junction mass stabbing attack has been expanded to include the reporting of the tragedy, after the families of the six victims suffered "significant distress".
Joel Cauchi, 40, and wounded at least 10 others in the violent spree at the busy Westfield shopping centre in Bondi Junction in Sydney's east on 13 April 2024.
Ashlee Good, 38, Dawn Singleton, 25, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 27 and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, were killed.
Security guard Muhammad Taha, who was injured in the mass stabbing rampage, attended the funeral for fellow security guard Faraz Tahir who was killed in the attack. Source: AAP / Dan Himbrechts
The inquest — which is examining the circumstances of the attack with the aim of preventing similar tragedies in the future — has now been broadened to examine that aspect.
The effect of the reporting on the families of the victims and others will be investigated from 28 April.
"A number of families have reported their significant distress at graphic footage being shown in the media," counsel assisting Peggy Dwyer SC told an inquest directions hearing at the NSW Coroners Court on Monday.
Family members of the victims dialled into the court instead of attending in person.
Barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC said the families of Good, Singleton and Young had their lives changed "in a way that none of us can really comprehend" and "insensitive and inaccurate" media reporting made the process much worse.
Singleton's father, John Singleton, has meanwhile called for the four-week inquest to be called off, saying no one would benefit.
Dawn Singleton's father, John Singleton has called for the inquest to be called off. Source: AAP / Simon Bullard
Dwyer said the fact that are "very rare" in Australia doesn't ease the suffering of the victims' families, and noted the inquest would be taking a trauma-informed approach.
She said graphic CCTV footage from the attack will not be shown in open court and urged the media to consider whether it was necessary to include in their coverage.
Partitions have also been set up at the court doors to allow families to arrive and leave without being disturbed by a throng of cameras and reporters.
The inquest aims to save lives and prevent mass casualties by assessing whether there were any missed opportunities for intervention and how to improve emergency responses.
It will hear from a security expert in the UK who has previously given evidence in inquests for the and the
One of the questions to be considered is how Cauchi selected his victims, who were mostly women.
People at a candlelit vigil on 21 April 2024 for victims of the Bondi Junction stabbing attack. Source: Getty / Lisa Maree Williams
Coroner O'Sullivan is expected to hand down her findings in December.
The pre-inquest hearing comes days before a memorial to the victims of the stabbing attack is due to be unveiled at the shopping centre.
Photographs and messages collected from floral tribute sites and the candlelight vigil that followed the attack will be on display from 10 April to 16 April.
Members of the public have been invited to visit and honour the victims at the memorial, which will be staffed by welfare support officers on 12 April and 13 April.
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