It’s been a powerful and emotional first day at the Bondi Westfield inquest. 

The court heard that Joel Cauchi, the Queensland man behind the deadly attack, had been seriously mentally ill, unmedicated, and obsessed with mass killings in the lead-up to the tragedy. 

9News Reporter Annalise Bolt told Peter Fegan on 4BC Breakfast, "Truly disturbing insight into Joel Couchie's state of mind and also some serious issues in the mental health system in New South Wales and Queensland."

"The senior counsel assisting the coroner, Peggy Dwight, said yesterday that he was a person that was extremely unwell, that had become preoccupied with weapons, violence and mass killing," Ms Bolt continued. 

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