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Andrea Boros-Lavack, who had been treating Cauchi for eight years, initially testified that he did not suffer from chronic schizophrenia and was not experiencing any mental illness during the incident.
Pikria Darchia was among the six individuals injured in the knife assault at Bondi Junction. Source: NSW Police, PA / Family handout
“In my honest opinion, the attack was unrelated to any psychotic episode,” Boros-Lavack stated during the inquest examining the fatalities.
While presenting possible conclusions and recommendations regarding the April 2024 incident, Dwyer noted that Boros-Lavack’s statement, which she later retracted, had deeply upset the victims’ families.
Joel Cauchi was ultimately shot and killed by police. Source: Facebook
Boros-Lavack’s characterisation of Cauchi’s mental health illness as prolonged first episode psychosis was “at best misconceived”, Dwyer said.
But they were not noted by the treating psychiatrist when she discharged him into the care of his GP, she said.
Six people were killed and more seriously injured during the stabbing rampage at Westfield Bondi Junction in April 2024. Source: AAP / Steven Saphore
The psychiatrist has since accepted there were deficiencies in the way she handed over Cauchi’s care, including not flagging his relapse symptoms or the high risk that he would relapse.
“It’s highly concerning that someone charged with the care of some of the most vulnerable in our society would be so unwilling to reflect and learn.”
