Tears and hope as families mourn Bondi stabbing victims

Tears were shed and tissues were piled high as families of those killed in a shocking mass stabbing recounted their pain, bringing an emotionally charged inquest to a close.
Dawn Singleton, 25, Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 27 and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, all died in the attack carried out by Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney's east in April 2024.
Ten others were injured by the schizophrenic man who was experiencing psychotic symptoms.
"I am angry and aggrieved and anguished for what I have lost and for what it cost," Elizabeth Young said of her daughter Jade's tragic fate.
Hours before the tragedy, she said she received a heart emoji in a text from her architect daughter responding to a photo of mushrooms she had taken during her Saturday walk.
"I hurt so terribly that our ... slightly goofy, funny, gentle girl no longer has the chance to be, to exist in the now and future," she told the court.
"As it is, she exists in the past only."
Ms Young decried the "trauma porn" she said she experienced from the media after the April 2024 attack, including seeing footage of her daughter's lifeless body - being worked on by paramedics - broadcast globally.
She also criticised a photographer for taking a snap of her and her family while mourning at a vigil in Bondi Beach.
"To think images of a grieving family or a woman lying dead is newsworthy sickens me," she said.
The family of Mr Tahir also attended the inquest where a joint statement was read out by his elder brother Muzafar.
Mr Tahir was a brave, compassionate man who ran towards danger to help others on that day, paying the ultimate price, he said as images of his brother flashed across the screen.
"By sacrificing his life, Faraz died with honour," Muzafar said.
"To many of us he will always be remembered as a symbol of bravery. Our hero."
He also recognised the pain that Cauchi's parents must be feeling, saying the tragedy was not their fault.
A statement from economics student Yixuan's Chinese parents Jun Xing and Pengfei Cheng was read by their barrister Daniel Roff.
"It breaks our heart even more to know that there was nothing we could do," her parents wrote.
No matter how much empathy or compassion one had, it was impossible to know what it felt like to be parents who had lost their only child, they wrote.
"The piercing, bone-deep, soul-crushing agony that is beyond description and follows us like a shadow."
Statements by Ms Darchia's son's George Darchia and Irakli Dvali - who were watching by audiovisual link from Georgia - remembered their caring, kind and observant artist mother.
"A life was lost, a beautiful life, and for what?" Mr Darchia said in his statement.
His words were full of sorrow but also hope, the court heard.
"May God help us, all of us, to prevent tragedies like this in the future."
Statements by Ms Good's family were read out by barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC - who was in tears at points - but their contents cannot be legally published.
Ms Singleton's partner Ashley Wildey and mother Julie attended the NSW Coroners Court on Friday but did not say anything publicly.
Victims' families were also offered a route to enter the court building behind a partition, away from the media's view.
The efforts to protect those worst affected by the events of April 2024 served as an undercurrent throughout the five-week inquest, taking a trauma-informed approach to aid victim survivors and those who lost loved ones.
As the inquest concluded, coroner Teresa O'Sullivan thanked the families for their "profoundly moving" words.
"Today has been a day that has affected everyone," she said.
"I'll never forget what I heard today."
The inquest will resume on October 9 for closing submissions.
Ms O'Sullivan will then retire to consider her findings about what happened and any recommendations she will make to avoid future tragedies.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Tears were shed and tissues were piled high as families of those killed in a shocking mass stabbing recounted their pain, bringing an emotionally charged inquest to a close.
Dawn Singleton, 25, Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 27 and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, all died in the attack carried out by Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney's east in April 2024.
Ten others were injured by the schizophrenic man who was experiencing psychotic symptoms.
"I am angry and aggrieved and anguished for what I have lost and for what it cost," Elizabeth Young said of her daughter Jade's tragic fate.
Hours before the tragedy, she said she received a heart emoji in a text from her architect daughter responding to a photo of mushrooms she had taken during her Saturday walk.
"I hurt so terribly that our ... slightly goofy, funny, gentle girl no longer has the chance to be, to exist in the now and future," she told the court.
"As it is, she exists in the past only."
Ms Young decried the "trauma porn" she said she experienced from the media after the April 2024 attack, including seeing footage of her daughter's lifeless body - being worked on by paramedics - broadcast globally.
She also criticised a photographer for taking a snap of her and her family while mourning at a vigil in Bondi Beach.
"To think images of a grieving family or a woman lying dead is newsworthy sickens me," she said.
The family of Mr Tahir also attended the inquest where a joint statement was read out by his elder brother Muzafar.
Mr Tahir was a brave, compassionate man who ran towards danger to help others on that day, paying the ultimate price, he said as images of his brother flashed across the screen.
"By sacrificing his life, Faraz died with honour," Muzafar said.
"To many of us he will always be remembered as a symbol of bravery. Our hero."
He also recognised the pain that Cauchi's parents must be feeling, saying the tragedy was not their fault.
A statement from economics student Yixuan's Chinese parents Jun Xing and Pengfei Cheng was read by their barrister Daniel Roff.
"It breaks our heart even more to know that there was nothing we could do," her parents wrote.
No matter how much empathy or compassion one had, it was impossible to know what it felt like to be parents who had lost their only child, they wrote.
"The piercing, bone-deep, soul-crushing agony that is beyond description and follows us like a shadow."
Statements by Ms Darchia's son's George Darchia and Irakli Dvali - who were watching by audiovisual link from Georgia - remembered their caring, kind and observant artist mother.
"A life was lost, a beautiful life, and for what?" Mr Darchia said in his statement.
His words were full of sorrow but also hope, the court heard.
"May God help us, all of us, to prevent tragedies like this in the future."
Statements by Ms Good's family were read out by barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC - who was in tears at points - but their contents cannot be legally published.
Ms Singleton's partner Ashley Wildey and mother Julie attended the NSW Coroners Court on Friday but did not say anything publicly.
Victims' families were also offered a route to enter the court building behind a partition, away from the media's view.
The efforts to protect those worst affected by the events of April 2024 served as an undercurrent throughout the five-week inquest, taking a trauma-informed approach to aid victim survivors and those who lost loved ones.
As the inquest concluded, coroner Teresa O'Sullivan thanked the families for their "profoundly moving" words.
"Today has been a day that has affected everyone," she said.
"I'll never forget what I heard today."
The inquest will resume on October 9 for closing submissions.
Ms O'Sullivan will then retire to consider her findings about what happened and any recommendations she will make to avoid future tragedies.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Tears were shed and tissues were piled high as families of those killed in a shocking mass stabbing recounted their pain, bringing an emotionally charged inquest to a close.
Dawn Singleton, 25, Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 27 and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, all died in the attack carried out by Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney's east in April 2024.
Ten others were injured by the schizophrenic man who was experiencing psychotic symptoms.
"I am angry and aggrieved and anguished for what I have lost and for what it cost," Elizabeth Young said of her daughter Jade's tragic fate.
Hours before the tragedy, she said she received a heart emoji in a text from her architect daughter responding to a photo of mushrooms she had taken during her Saturday walk.
"I hurt so terribly that our ... slightly goofy, funny, gentle girl no longer has the chance to be, to exist in the now and future," she told the court.
"As it is, she exists in the past only."
Ms Young decried the "trauma porn" she said she experienced from the media after the April 2024 attack, including seeing footage of her daughter's lifeless body - being worked on by paramedics - broadcast globally.
She also criticised a photographer for taking a snap of her and her family while mourning at a vigil in Bondi Beach.
"To think images of a grieving family or a woman lying dead is newsworthy sickens me," she said.
The family of Mr Tahir also attended the inquest where a joint statement was read out by his elder brother Muzafar.
Mr Tahir was a brave, compassionate man who ran towards danger to help others on that day, paying the ultimate price, he said as images of his brother flashed across the screen.
"By sacrificing his life, Faraz died with honour," Muzafar said.
"To many of us he will always be remembered as a symbol of bravery. Our hero."
He also recognised the pain that Cauchi's parents must be feeling, saying the tragedy was not their fault.
A statement from economics student Yixuan's Chinese parents Jun Xing and Pengfei Cheng was read by their barrister Daniel Roff.
"It breaks our heart even more to know that there was nothing we could do," her parents wrote.
No matter how much empathy or compassion one had, it was impossible to know what it felt like to be parents who had lost their only child, they wrote.
"The piercing, bone-deep, soul-crushing agony that is beyond description and follows us like a shadow."
Statements by Ms Darchia's son's George Darchia and Irakli Dvali - who were watching by audiovisual link from Georgia - remembered their caring, kind and observant artist mother.
"A life was lost, a beautiful life, and for what?" Mr Darchia said in his statement.
His words were full of sorrow but also hope, the court heard.
"May God help us, all of us, to prevent tragedies like this in the future."
Statements by Ms Good's family were read out by barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC - who was in tears at points - but their contents cannot be legally published.
Ms Singleton's partner Ashley Wildey and mother Julie attended the NSW Coroners Court on Friday but did not say anything publicly.
Victims' families were also offered a route to enter the court building behind a partition, away from the media's view.
The efforts to protect those worst affected by the events of April 2024 served as an undercurrent throughout the five-week inquest, taking a trauma-informed approach to aid victim survivors and those who lost loved ones.
As the inquest concluded, coroner Teresa O'Sullivan thanked the families for their "profoundly moving" words.
"Today has been a day that has affected everyone," she said.
"I'll never forget what I heard today."
The inquest will resume on October 9 for closing submissions.
Ms O'Sullivan will then retire to consider her findings about what happened and any recommendations she will make to avoid future tragedies.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636
Tears were shed and tissues were piled high as families of those killed in a shocking mass stabbing recounted their pain, bringing an emotionally charged inquest to a close.
Dawn Singleton, 25, Ashlee Good, 38, Jade Young, 47, Pikria Darchia, 55, Yixuan Cheng, 27 and security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, all died in the attack carried out by Joel Cauchi at Bondi Junction Westfield in Sydney's east in April 2024.
Ten others were injured by the schizophrenic man who was experiencing psychotic symptoms.
"I am angry and aggrieved and anguished for what I have lost and for what it cost," Elizabeth Young said of her daughter Jade's tragic fate.
Hours before the tragedy, she said she received a heart emoji in a text from her architect daughter responding to a photo of mushrooms she had taken during her Saturday walk.
"I hurt so terribly that our ... slightly goofy, funny, gentle girl no longer has the chance to be, to exist in the now and future," she told the court.
"As it is, she exists in the past only."
Ms Young decried the "trauma porn" she said she experienced from the media after the April 2024 attack, including seeing footage of her daughter's lifeless body - being worked on by paramedics - broadcast globally.
She also criticised a photographer for taking a snap of her and her family while mourning at a vigil in Bondi Beach.
"To think images of a grieving family or a woman lying dead is newsworthy sickens me," she said.
The family of Mr Tahir also attended the inquest where a joint statement was read out by his elder brother Muzafar.
Mr Tahir was a brave, compassionate man who ran towards danger to help others on that day, paying the ultimate price, he said as images of his brother flashed across the screen.
"By sacrificing his life, Faraz died with honour," Muzafar said.
"To many of us he will always be remembered as a symbol of bravery. Our hero."
He also recognised the pain that Cauchi's parents must be feeling, saying the tragedy was not their fault.
A statement from economics student Yixuan's Chinese parents Jun Xing and Pengfei Cheng was read by their barrister Daniel Roff.
"It breaks our heart even more to know that there was nothing we could do," her parents wrote.
No matter how much empathy or compassion one had, it was impossible to know what it felt like to be parents who had lost their only child, they wrote.
"The piercing, bone-deep, soul-crushing agony that is beyond description and follows us like a shadow."
Statements by Ms Darchia's son's George Darchia and Irakli Dvali - who were watching by audiovisual link from Georgia - remembered their caring, kind and observant artist mother.
"A life was lost, a beautiful life, and for what?" Mr Darchia said in his statement.
His words were full of sorrow but also hope, the court heard.
"May God help us, all of us, to prevent tragedies like this in the future."
Statements by Ms Good's family were read out by barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC - who was in tears at points - but their contents cannot be legally published.
Ms Singleton's partner Ashley Wildey and mother Julie attended the NSW Coroners Court on Friday but did not say anything publicly.
Victims' families were also offered a route to enter the court building behind a partition, away from the media's view.
The efforts to protect those worst affected by the events of April 2024 served as an undercurrent throughout the five-week inquest, taking a trauma-informed approach to aid victim survivors and those who lost loved ones.
As the inquest concluded, coroner Teresa O'Sullivan thanked the families for their "profoundly moving" words.
"Today has been a day that has affected everyone," she said.
"I'll never forget what I heard today."
The inquest will resume on October 9 for closing submissions.
Ms O'Sullivan will then retire to consider her findings about what happened and any recommendations she will make to avoid future tragedies.
Lifeline 13 11 14
beyondblue 1300 22 4636

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