Spotlight on police officer's courage in mass stabbing

The bravery of a heroic police officer who ended a deadly stabbing rampage is expected to receive acclaim as an inquest into the tragedy draws to a close.

Inspector Amy Scott rushed into Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre on April 13, 2024 without backup after panicked shoppers begged her for help.

She confronted knife-wielding Joel Cauchi, who was experiencing psychotic symptoms as he launched an indiscriminate attack that killed six people and injured 10 others, including a baby.

As Cauchi ran at her, Insp Scott made sure all civilians were out of range before shooting him twice.

It took 85 seconds for her to enter the centre, find Cauchi and shoot him.

Her response was entirely justified and appropriate, an inquest into the mass stabbing is expected to hear on Tuesday.

Counsel assisting Emma Sullivan foreshadowed she would extol Insp Scott's "extraordinary courage" in confronting Cauchi in the most dire circumstances and saving lives.

The inquest is examining the initial response to the attack by police, paramedics and security guards to determine whether further tragedies can be prevented.

In Insp Scott's case, Ms Sullivan said she demonstrated laudable situational awareness in executing the training that had equipped her to deal with the chaotic scene.

The security guards at the shopping centre are also expected to receive appreciation for their performance under pressure.

Security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, died alongside Dawn Singleton, 25, Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, and Yixuan Cheng, 27, in the attack.

A lawyer for Mr Tahir's family previously told the inquest he would conclude security guards performed well under pressure and were well trained - with one exception.

The lone security guard in the shopping centre's CCTV control room was on a toilet break when Cauchi stabbed his first victim, the NSW Coroners Court was told.

The 40-year-old attacked eight people - including three who would later die - before she returned.

The inquest is also probing whether there were any failures in treating Cauchi's mental health or missed opportunities to help him before he moved from Queensland to NSW.

Cauchi had been successfully treated for schizophrenia since he was a teenager but he was weaned off antipsychotics and fell through the cracks of the mental health system before ending up homeless in Sydney.

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