Diagnosed with schizophrenia as a teenager, Cauchi had a history of treatment-resistant symptoms and was prescribed anti-psychotic medications, which he stopped taking in 2018 and 2019.

By July 2019, he had stopped taking his anti-psychotic medication entirely and ceased seeing a psychiatrist by March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A nurse testified that discharged psychiatric patients should receive structured follow-up plans, rather than relying solely on general practitioners for ongoing support.

The nurse described Cauchi's later violent actions as shocking and inconsistent with his previous demeanor, expressing disbelief upon learning he was responsible for the attack.

Throughout questioning, the psychiatrist denied any treatment failures, asserting that symptoms like insomnia did not indicate a return of Cauchi's schizophrenia.

After being discharged from treatment in March 2020, he became increasingly unstable, leading to interactions with police and growing concerns from his family.

Cauchi's violent outburst followed a significant decline in his mental health after he ceased medication in mid-2019.

In April 2024, Joel Cauchi, 40, fatally stabbed six shoppers and injured ten others at Sydney's Westfield Bondi Junction before being shot dead by police.

In February 2020, his mother raised alarms about his deteriorating condition, noting he was struggling to care for himself after moving to Brisbane.

An ongoing coronial inquest is examining the circumstances surrounding Cauchi's mental health treatment and the tragic outcomes of his actions.

The inquest will question the psychiatrist about her decision to stop Cauchi's anti-psychotics and the actions taken after his mother expressed concerns about his mental health.

Counsel assisting the inquest indicated that the Toowoomba clinic managed Cauchi's care appropriately, addressing concerns raised by his mother.