Joel Cauchi’s ‘very religious’ parents come out of Bondi Junction killer’s childhood home after breaking their silence about the massacre – as neighbors talk about the knifeman and his last visit to the property

The ‘very religious’ parents of the killer responsible for the Bondi Junction Westfield shopping mall massacre emerged from their Queensland home on Sunday night after breaking their silence during the horrific stabbing.

Andrew and Michele Cauchi, both in their 70s, declined to speak to the media after previously describing their son Joel Cauchi’s murderous rampage as ‘truly horrific’.

A neighbor who has lived on the street for more than 30 years visited Ms 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 team.

The Cauchis have lived in the Toowoomba suburb of Rockville for 46 years, and last saw their son just a few months ago when the 40-year-old came for Christmas, but according to neighbors he did not show his face outside during the visit.

A neighbour, Carol, told TheWSTNews Australia that Andrew had said Joel was going home this week to help him reduce the number of pigeons he keeps in aviaries at the back of the property after he received noise- and odor complaints.

But when he went about his routine of feeding the pigeons while carrying a headlamp in the dark around 10 p.m.

Joel Cauchi was shot dead by hero NSW Police Inspector Amy Scott on Saturday afternoon after he stormed the busy shopping center in Sydney’s east with a 30cm hunting knife, stabbing random shoppers.

Six people were killed in the vandalism and at least 12 more were taken to hospital, including a nine-month-old baby.

His parents learned of the horror when they recognized their son from footage on television and made a frantic phone call to the police, but by then it was too late.

Cauchi was schizophrenic and police are treating the horrific attack as mental health-related.

The Cauchis said in their statement that they had ‘no problem’ with her actions or the actions of the NSW Police.

“We are completely devastated by the traumatic events that took place in Sydney yesterday,” they said.

‘Our thoughts and prayers go out to 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 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 Force and the Queensland Police Service and have no problem with the police officer who shot our son as she was only doing her job to protect others and we hope she is doing well.”

Carol and another neighbor said Andrew Cauchi is ‘very religious’ and had worshiped in a number of Toowoomba churches since he was dismissed with the Catholic faith after expressing his disgust at priests sexually abusing children.

‘He loves those birds. He often takes off his shirt and lies on his back and looks up at the sky while waving a stick around which makes the pigeons move and fly around,’ said a neighbour.

Sir. Cauchi often referred to 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 around.

‘At one point the son came home with some other backpackers to help weed the yard. Andrew just loves gardening.’

It is unclear whether Mr and Mrs Cauchi knew of their son’s double life as a male escort.

Cauchi offered his sexual services online as late as mid-2023 and described himself as ‘athletic (and) good-looking’.

He offered ‘closed door’ services to both men and women, among other opportunities for graphic artists to publish.

On Sunday, Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Roger Lowe said police had heard about Cauchi’s horrific living conditions from his family.

In recent weeks, the 40-year-old had been sleeping in a car or in a backpackers’ hostel.

Although he was not in regular contact with his parents, he “texted his mother with an update on where he was”, Assistant Commissioner Lowe said.

On Sunday night, the neighbor who was visiting Mrs Cauchi told the media to ‘have some compassion’ as she left.

Five of the victims killed 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.

Mother-of-one Ashlee Good, 38, died in hospital from her injuries after trying to save her nine-month-old child, 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 in Cauchi’s rampage.

Another female victim, believed to be from abroad, has not yet been identified.