KILLER ‘UNWELL FOR YEARS’
THE devastated family of the schizophrenic who killed six people and injured a dozen in the Sydney shopping centre massacre have branded his crimes “truly horrific”.
Joel Cauchi’s relatives offered “thoughts and prayers” to his victims’ loved ones as they told of his years of mental health problems.
Cauchi, 40, was shot dead by a female police officer as he rampaged with a “zombie blade” at Westfield in Bondi Junction on Saturday.
His family called police when they recognised him from footage broadcast on TV news.
New South Wales Assistant Commissioner Anthony
Cooke said the killer had been known to police and they had found a storage facility he used after moving to Sydney.
Mr Cooke said it “would appear that this is related to the mental health of the individual involved”.
Cauchi grew up in Toowoomba, Queensland, and claimed to be an English tutor who liked surfing. But he also listed himself on local escort websites, calling himself “athletic” and “good-looking”.
Queensland Assistant Commissioner Roger Lowe said officers last dealt with Cauchi during a street check in the Gold Coast in December.
Police were also called to his house last year after a dispute with his family and found he had knives. His family added that he had “battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager”. They added: “We have no issues with the officer who shot our son as she was doing her job.” Police say the attacker would have “undoubtedly killed more” had Insp Amy Scott not shot him dead.
She sprinted to the top level of the shopping complex and confronted the knifeman, who raised his blade.
The officer then performed CPR on the killer and his victims as she awaited back-up. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and the Prince and Princess of Wales praised Insp Scott. Mr Albanese called the officer “a hero” and also saluted a male shopper who tried to stop Cauchi with a bollard.