Michele Cauchi, the mother of Joel Cauchi, the Bondi attacker, has spoken out about her son’s actions. She expressed confusion about what motivated her son’s attack, stating that he was raised with love. According to Michele, Joel had been requesting a reduction in his medication over several years before leaving the family home.
She described the situation as a parent’s worst nightmare, especially when dealing with a child with mental illness. Michele extended her sympathy to the victims of her son’s actions, expressing belief that Joel would have been devastated by what he had done if he were in his right mind. She emphasised that he seemed to have been triggered into psychosis, losing touch with reality.
Michele mentioned that Joel had many friends until he fell ill. She urged others with family members facing mental health issues to seek support, emphasising that they were ordinary parents who did their best to raise their son.
Andrew Cauchi, Joel’s father, echoed similar sentiments, describing his son as a “very sick boy” who had let himself down. He expressed love and heartbreak for Joel, despite the devastation caused by his actions.
The Cauchis expressed sorrow for the victims and their families, with Andrew apologising and expressing devastation for the tragedy. He revealed that they had done everything they could to care for Joel before he stopped taking his medication and left for Brisbane.
Andrew recounted his efforts to support Joel, emphasising his love for his son and the pain of seeing him struggle with mental illness. He lamented that Joel had “let himself down” after being taken off medication when he appeared to be doing well.
Joel Cauchi, 40, targeted women in the attack at Westfield Bondi Junction, which ended when he was shot dead by police.
Joel had been diagnosed with schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder characterised by episodes of psychosis, manifesting in altered perceptions of reality. Symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, disorganised thinking, paranoid thoughts, social withdrawal, a lack of emotional expression, and unusual physical behaviours.
