The “very religious” parents of the killer responsible for the Bondi Junction Westfield shopping center massacre left their Queensland home on Sunday night after breaking their silence over the horrific spate of stabbings.
Andrew and Michele Cauchi, both in their 70s, refused to speak to the media after previously describing the murderous attack on their son Joel Cauchi as “truly horrific”.
A neighbor who has lived on the street for more than 30 years visited Mrs Cauchi for about an hour, while a man believed to be a family member was also at the house helping Mr Cauchi with his pigeon coops.
The Cauchis have lived in the Toowoomba suburb of Rockville for 46 years, and She last saw her son a few months ago, when the 40-year-old came for Christmas, but neighbors say he didn’t appear outside during the visit.
A neighbor, Carol, told WhatsNew2Day Australia that Andrew had said Joel was due to return home this week to help him reduce the number of pigeons he keeps in aviaries at the back of the property, after receiving complaints about noise and smells.
Mr. Cauchi and an unidentified man looked at the assembled media.
On Sunday night, a neighbor who has lived on the street for more than 30 years visited Ms. Cauchi (pictured in the red top) for about an hour and said “have some compassion” to the media when he went away.
Cauchi went out to feed his pigeons while carrying a flashlight in the dark around 7 pm (pictured)
However, as he continued his routine of feeding the pigeons while carrying a flashlight in the dark at around 7pm, Carol said she did not see how Mr Cauchi could carry out the task of removing hundreds of pigeons now. that his son was dead.
Joel Cauchi was shot dead by heroic NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott on Saturday afternoon after bursting into a busy shopping center in Sydney’s east with a 30cm hunting knife and stabbing to random buyers.
Six people died in the attack and at least 12 others were rushed to hospital, including a nine-month-old baby.
His parents learned of the horror when they recognized their son from television footage and made a frantic phone call to the police, but by then it was too late.
Andrew Cauchi has lived in the Darling Downs suburb of Rockville for 46 years with his wife Michele (their property is pictured)
A neighbor revealed that Joel (pictured) was due to return home this week to help his father reduce the number of pigeons he keeps in aviaries at the back of the property.
Cauchi was schizophrenic and police are treating the horrific attack as mental health-related.
The Cauchis said in their statement they have “no problem” with their actions or those of the New South Wales Police.
“We are absolutely devastated by the traumatic events that occurred in Sydney yesterday,” they said.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and those still in treatment at this time.
‘Joel’s actions were truly horrific and we are still trying to understand what happened.
‘He has struggled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.
“We are in contact with both the New South Wales Police and the Queensland Police Service and we have no issues with the police officer who shot our son because he was only doing his job to protect others and we hope it is resolved.” I fixed them well.”
Carol and another neighbor said Andrew Cauchi is “very religious” and had worshiped at several Toowoomba churches since he split from the Catholic faith after expressing his disgust at priests who sexually assaulted children.
He loves those birds. He often takes off his shirt, lies on his back and looks at the sky while waving a stick, causing the pigeons to flutter and fly,” said a neighbor.
Cauchi often referred to his son Joel as “a backpacker traveling to Melbourne”.
Carol said: ‘He told me his son was a well-behaved boy who got a bus pass so he could travel.
‘At one point, the son returned home with other backpackers to help weed the garden. Andrew loves gardening.
It is not clear whether Mr. and Mrs. Cauchi knew of their son’s double life as a male companion.
Cauchi offered his sexual services online in mid-2023, describing himself as “athletic.” [and] good looking’.
It offered “behind closed doors” services to both men and women, among other options too graphic to publish.
On Sunday, Queensland Police Deputy Commissioner Roger Lowe said police had learned of Cauchi’s appalling living conditions from his family.
In recent weeks, the 40-year-old had been sleeping in a car or in a backpacker hostel.
Although he was not in regular contact with his parents, “he sent a text message to his mother telling her where he was,” Deputy Commissioner Lowe said.
On Sunday night, the neighbor who visited Mrs. Cauchi said “have some compassion” to the media as she left.
Five of the victims who died in the horrific stabbing have so far been identified.
They include bride-to-be Dawn Singleton, 25, architect Jade Young, 47, security guard Faraz Tahir, 30, and artist Pikria Darchia, 55.
Ashlee Good, 38, a mother of one, died in hospital from her injuries after trying to save her nine-month-old son who had also been stabbed.
The little girl is currently in intensive care. Two other stabbing victims are fighting for their lives in critical condition, while around a dozen were injured by Cauchi’s attack.
Another female victim, who is believed to be a foreigner, has yet to be identified.
John Singleton’s daughter Dawnie, 25, has been named among six people killed by knife attacker Joel Cauchi in Bondi Junction Westfield on Saturday.
Ashlee Good (pictured), died at St Vincent’s Hospital on Saturday night after being stabbed in the rampage.
Faraz Tahir, 30, tragically lost his life while serving the public as a security guard during this attack. He was a refugee from Pakistan.
Jade Young (pictured), of Bellevue Hill, died in the attack.
Pikria Darchia (pictured), 55, who describes herself as an artist on LinkedIn and is understood to be originally from Tbilisi, Georgia, was the fifth victim identified.