Man Who Killed 6 in Sydney Mall Stabbing Was 'Not Psychotic,' Likely Acted Out of 'Hatred for Women,' Ex-Doctor Testifies

Joel Cauchi, the man who fatally stabbed six people in a Sydney mall on April 13, 2024, did not have a psychotic episode and most likely acted out due to “his hatred towards women,” his doctor has reportedly revealed in court. 

A psychiatrist who previously treated Cauchi, 40, for several years before the attack made the bombshell claim in an inquest on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. This contradicts evidence from other psychiatric experts suggesting that Cauchi was “floridly psychic” during the attack, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Guardian reported.

The Queensland doctor, referred to as “Dr. A” for legal reasons, alleged in court that Cauchi did not have a psychotic episode, as this didn’t fall in line with him having the capabilities to organize the planned attack, according to the outlets.

“That was nothing to do with psychosis,” Dr. A said, per The Guardian. “He couldn’t have organized himself to do what he did. I think it might have been due to his frustrations, sexual frustration, pornography and hatred towards women.”

Cauchi stabbed and killed six people and injured 12 others at a Westfield mall in Sydney on April 13. He was fatally shot by a responding police officer. Ash Good, 38, whose 9-month-old daughter was also injured in the attack, died in the hospital, News.com.au and The Telegraph previously reported. 

Dr. A treated Cauchi at a private clinic from 2012 to 2020. He had been completely unmedicated since 2019 and was weaned off the antipsychotic medications, Clopine and Abilify, years before the attack. The doctor reportedly told the inquest the medication “would have made no difference,” per SMH.

According to the outlet, Cauchi’s mother, Michele, had tried to warn Dr. A and his nurses that her son was declining in late 2019, saying that Cauchi was scrawling messages about being under “satanic” control and was obsessing over pornography and sexually transmitted diseases.

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Dr. A denied in the inquest that his former client showed signs of reemerging psychosis at the time and stands by the decision to wean him off his medication, per SMH.

“It was my decision, and his decision,” Dr A told the inquest on Tuesday, per SMH. “I was listening to the patient … I did not fail in my care of Joel. I have no error on my behalf.”

“It wasn’t psychosis, it wasn’t even early warning signs of relapse, it was based on his fear of STDs, it was based on his sexual frustration, he told us later about prostitutes and women and sex,” Dr. A added. 

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During a press conference on April 14, per 9 News Australia, Queensland Police Acting Asst. Comm. Roger Lowe said that he was “aware this individual has suffered from mental health” issues, referring to Cauchi.

Cauchi’s family said in a statement after the April 13 attack, per the BBC, “We are absolutely devastated by the traumatic events that occurred in Sydney yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the victims and those still undergoing treatment at this time. Joel’s actions were truly horrific, and we are still trying to comprehend what has happened.”