Bondi Junction attack: Inspector Amy Scott called as witness on day two of inquest into Joel Cauchi murders

The hero cop who shot killer Joel Cauchi during the Bondi attack has teared up while speaking of the “courage and bravery” of young police officers who also ran in to assist on the day, saying some haven’t been able to return to work.

Joel Cauchi, 40, killed six people and injured 10 during a stabbing rampage at the Westfield Bondi Junction shopping centre in Sydney’s east on April 13, 2024.

Dawn Singleton, Yixuan Cheng, Faraz Ahmed Tahir, Ashlee Good, Jade Young and Pikria Darchia were all killed in the attack.

Inspector Amy Scott, working alone, shot Cauchi dead during the incident and is credited with saving multiple lives as a result.

A five-week coronial inquest into Cauchi’s “state of mind” both before the fatal attack and on the day, including whether he may have targeted any particular individuals or groups, began on Monday.

Speaking at the inquest on Tuesday, Insp Scott became upset as she shared how the other young police officers who were called to the scene were “fearful running in”.

“Whilst I was the person that faced Joel, those young officers ran in with the same intentions,” she said.

Tears filled her eyes as she spoke of their bravery.

“I just want to acknowledge their courage and bravery and some of them…(are) unable to return (to work).

“They have my wholehearted support, love and care, and I hope that the public does understand that they were absolutely extraordinary - they saved lives that day.”

She also acknowledged the paramedics, first responders and civilians.

“You had young 20-year-old shop keepers dealing with a crisis, adults turning to them saying ‘What do we do?’” she said.

She said while we “unfortunately lost the lives of beautiful people” that day, the actions of civilians and first responders had “restored faith in humanity and the goodness in people”.

Earlier in the days she shared how she moved two women pushing prams and another young child out of harms way.

“I knew that there were civilians behind me up close, so I started to usher them back behind me,” Insp Scott said.

“I saw a lady and a pram - there were actually two ladies and a pram, but one sort of had run away already.”

Inspector Scott said one lady had hidden behind a large pot plant, and she’d signalled and mouthed for her to “run”.

“For a second (Cauchi) turned as if he was going to go that way and at that point I yelled out ‘Mate’ to get his attention back to me,” Inspector Scott said.

She told the court she attempted to get her body worn video on, and while she took her eyes off for that second, Cauchi “sprinted downhill” at her with his knife out.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Dr Peggy Dwyer SC said Cauchi looked like he was about to follow that lady with the pram, which was why Insp Scott had yelled out to him.

She then fired at Cauchi, with one of the bullets landing in the pot plant the lady had just been hiding behind.

“I knew on the day it went into that pot plant that that lady had been hiding behind,” Inspector Scott said.

“You effectively directed away a civilian standing there with a pram…she may well have been injured or a child by the ricochet,” Ms Dwyer said.

Civilians told Insp Scott there was a “guy in there with a knife” and said “you’ve got to help us, please get in there”.

Inspector Scott said she was told “people are dying” and that “multiple people were screaming at me saying ‘there’s a guy, there’s people like getting stabbed, there’s a man with a knife in there’” in a police interview following the attack.

Initially planning to meet other officers before heading into the centre, she knew she “just had to go in” after hearing from those rushing out of the centre.

“It changed my response immediately. I considered it to be an active armed offender, I also knew that I couldn’t wait anymore for my colleagues to arrive and I just had to go in,” she said.

“It was my intention to try and find the threat.”