A former psychiatrist for Joel Cauchi, the 40-year-old perpetrator of a fatal stabbing spree at Westfield Bondi Junction, has resumed her testimony in court. Cauchi’s assault in April 2024 resulted in the deaths of six shoppers and left another ten injured. The psychiatrist, who cannot be named for legal reasons, faced intense questioning regarding her treatment of Cauchi, particularly following her decision to discontinue his antipsychotic medication by mid-2019.
During the hearings, the psychiatrist asserted that she did not make any errors in her treatment approach, despite the significant changes in Cauchi’s mental health before the attack. As noted by counsel Peggy Dwyer SC, the Toowoomba clinic had taken appropriate measures by scheduling regular appointments and addressing concerns raised by Cauchi’s mother. However, the psychiatrist denied any treatment failures, even when pressed about the alarming resurgence of symptoms such as insomnia and obsessive-compulsive behaviours, which she dismissed as not indicative of a psychotic break.
The psychiatrist maintained her stance, claiming confidence in her decision-making during Cauchi’s care. “We were sure that it wasn’t a psychotic break,” she stated, insisting that her actions were correct at the time.
Cauchi, diagnosed with schizophrenia during his teenage years, had shown improvement with treatment for over two decades. Nevertheless, a recent move to Brisbane led to gaps in his mental health care, ultimately resulting in homelessness in Sydney prior to his violent outburst. The attack culminated with Cauchi being shot by police.
The psychiatrist is expected to return to the stand for further questioning by the lawyers representing the victims’ families, following a failed attempt to provide her testimony via audiovisual link from Toowoomba.