A restaurant worker at Bondi Junction has revealed the moment mass murderer Joel Cauchi ordered lunch right before embarking on a deadly stabbing rampage.
Queenslander Cauchi, 40, stabbed six people to death and seriously wounded 12 others in a killing spree before being shot dead by NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott at Westfield Bondi Junction on Saturday afternoon.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Joel Cauchi orders food moments before Bondi attack.
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Restaurant worker Rogate Sianipar served Cauchi twice at Bondi Junction’s Saigon Noodle — once when he arrived just after 10am and tried to order but didn’t have enough money, and the second time when he returned two hours later for a sit-down meal.
He was there for 15 minutes before CCTV captured him stumbling down Oxford St and falling over just before 1pm.
Three hours later, he was attacking people at random.
Sianipar told 7NEWS she “felt lucky” Cauchi didn’t do anything in the restaurant.
“When taking the order … it was taking a long time… and (he said) ‘um, OK, oh … I’ll just order a chicken red curry’, like that,” she said.
Among those killed was 38-year-old osteopath Ashlee Good, whose nine-month-old daughter was also injured during the mass stabbing and remained in intensive care on Sunday after undergoing emergency surgery.
Other victims identified so far are Dawn Singleton, the 25-year-old daughter of multi-millionaire businessman John Singleton, 47-year-old architect Jade Young, 30-year-old security guard Faraz Tahir and 55-year-old artist and designer Pikria Darchia.
Family’s statement
Cauchi’s family issued a statement on Sunday afternoon, declaring they were absolutely devastated by the traumatic events and expressing their sorrow for the victims.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and those still undergoing treatment at this time,” they said in a statement issued by Queensland Police.
“Joel’s actions were truly horrific, and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened.
“He has battled with mental health issues since he was a teenager.”
They said they were in contact with NSW and Queensland police and had “no issues with the police officer who shot our son”.
“She was only doing her job to protect others and we hope she is coping all right ,” the family said.
Cauchi moved to Sydney from Queensland in March and rented a small Kennard’s storage unit in Waterloo.
It is believed he was living rough, sleeping in a car and backpack hotels.
“Our understanding from speaking to the family (is) he has been an itinerant,” Lowe said.
Neighbours of the family’s Toowoomba home were in disbelief, with one telling 7NEWS they felt “just shock”, adding: “When I heard his name this morning, I couldn’t believe it”.
They say he suffered from schizophrenia and had an estranged relationship with his parents.
“I think it was a couple of months ago, he was knocking on the door. I don’t know whether they weren’t home but no one answered.”
His father was seen returning to the family’s Toowoomba residence late on Sunday.
Queensland Police have had no contact with Cauchi since December, when he was street-checked on the Gold Coast.
Lowe said police had mostly been in contact with Cauchi in the past four to five years and indicated Cauchi’s mental health had declined.
“The man has never been arrested by police in Queensland nor has he been charged with any criminal offence,” he said.
Cauchi had no record of being subject to a domestic violence order, despite most of his victims being women.
A Queensland Health spokesperson confirmed Cauchi had been “treated for mental health issues more than a decade ago but his care was transferred to a psychiatrist in the private sector in 2012”.
– With AAP