Weekend Sunrise presenter Matt Doran was unable to host the show on Sunday because he knew one of the victims of the Bondi Junction Westfield massacre.
Doran’s regular co-host Monique Wright told viewers that both Doran and meteorologist James Tobin were close to one of those stabbed at the mall.
“Matt Doran and JT knew one of the victims very well and are not with us today to join us on the show,” Wright said.
Michael Usher replaced Doran as the Network Seven breakfast show continued its coverage of the multiple murders.
Weekend Sunrise presenter Matt Doran was unable to host the show on Sunday because he knew one of the victims of the Bondi Junction Westfield massacre. Monique Wright told viewers that Michael Usher (both pictured) would support Doran.
Police have identified the man who killed six shoppers on Saturday afternoon as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi from Queensland.
Cauchi, who slept rough and had no fixed address, is believed to have suffered from schizophrenia.
Investigators are searching a small storage facility in Sydney that Cauchi rented shortly after moving to New South Wales a month ago.
Police were called to Bondi Junction Westfield at 3.20pm on Saturday as Cauchi, armed with a knife, chased men, women and children.
Inspector Amy Scott was the first officer to arrive at the scene. She entered the mall alone, ran toward Cauchi and shot him dead when he lunged at her with the knife.
Both Doran and the Weekend Sunrise meteorologist “knew one of the victims very well,” co-host Monique Wright told the audience. Here Doran reports on the Hunter Valley wedding bus tragedy last year.
Five stabbing victims, including four women believed to be between 20 and 55 years old and a man in his 30s, died at the scene and were in the centre.
Ashlee Good, mother of a nine-month-old boy, was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital, where she died.
Dawn Singleton, the 25-year-old daughter of billionaire advertising guru John Singleton, has also been identified as one of those killed in the attack.
Twelve other people, including nine women, two men and Good’s baby Harriet, suffered stab wounds, were treated by paramedics and taken to various Sydney hospitals.
Deputy Commissioner Anthony Cooke said detectives had spoken to Cauchi’s family who were assisting police with their investigation.
“Still, to this point… we have not received any information, any evidence that we have recovered, any intelligence that we have gathered that suggests that this was driven by any particular motivation, whether ideological or otherwise,” the deputy commissioner said. Cooke to reporters on Sunday.
Police have identified the man who killed six shoppers on Saturday afternoon as 40-year-old Joel Cauchi from Queensland (above). Cauchi, who slept rough and had no fixed address, is believed to have suffered from schizophrenia.
“We continue to work on the profile of the offender but at this stage it seems very clear to us that this is related to the mental health of the individual involved.”
According to his social media profiles, Cauchi grew up in Toowoomba and claimed he worked as an English tutor.
He was a surfing enthusiast and last week he posted in a Sydney Facebook group asking if anyone wanted to meet him to surf in Bondi.
Deputy Commissioner Cooke said police were still working to determine how Cauchi came to possess the murder weapon, which has been described by witnesses as a 30cm hunting knife.
As investigations continue, any witnesses, anyone with information or mobile phone vision who has not already spoken to police is asked to call police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.