Police gunfire killed Sydney siege victim: inquest

SYDNEY - Agence France-Presse

New South Wales police officers wear protective masks as they place marker cones over potential evidence in their investigation into the Sydney cafe siege, December 16, 2014. REUTERS Photo

Ricochets from police gunfire killed one of the two hostages who died in a 16-hour siege at a central Sydney cafe in December, an inquest into the deadly stand-off heard Jan. 29.
      
Barrister and mother-of-three Katrina Dawson, 38, died along with cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34, and Iranian-born gunman Man Haron Monis, 50, when police stormed the financial district cafe in the early hours of December 16.
      
"Ms Dawson was struck by six fragments of a police bullet or bullets which ricocheted from hard surfaces into her body," counsel assisting the coroner's inquest, Jeremy Gormly, said.
      
"I will not detail the damage done to Ms Dawson other than to say that one fragment struck a major blood vessel. She lost consciousness quickly and died shortly afterwards."       

Seventeen hostages were holed up in the Lindt chocolate cafe, with the New South Wales Coroners' Court likely to call on those who survived to give evidence during the inquest, Gormly said.
      
"Difficult as it may be for them, it seems unavoidable that they will be asked to give evidence.
      
"They are our eyes and ears and memory of what happened during those hours inside the Lindt cafe," he said.
      
The inquest will outline what happened, hear about the hostages' experiences, investigate how NSW Police managed the siege, and delve into the background and motivations of Monis.
      
A separate investigation commissioned by the federal and New South Wales governments is set to submit a report in the next few days. The inquest will review the report's findings.
      
The stand-off shocked Australians, with thousands laying bouquets at a large makeshift memorial near the Lindt chocolate cafe.
      
Gormly said Johnson was shot in the back of the head by Monis with a sawn-off shotgun just moments after several hostages escaped.
      
"Johnson was made by Mr Monis to kneel on the floor of the cafe. After a short lapse of time, Mr Monis simply shot him without further notice or warning in the back of the head," he said.
      
"The end of the barrel was about 75 centimetres (30 inches) from Mr Johnson's head at the moment of discharge."       

Outside the court, one of the hostages who escaped in the first few hours, 82-year-old John O'Brien, told news.com.au it was "upsetting" to hear about Johnson's final minutes.
      
Gormly said the killing was witnessed by a police marksman, which led to the order for police "tactical operatives" to storm the cafe.
      
Some 22 shots were fired by the officers after 11 flash bangs were thrown into the room, while Monis fired two shots, the hearing was told.
      
"Bullets and fragments of bullets hit Mr Monis, who was, it seems, killed instantly," Gormly said.
      
"At least two bullets, police bullets or bullet fragments, hit Mr Monis in the head and 11 other bullets, police bullets or fragments, hit him in the body."       

During the stand-off, Monis fired a total of five rounds from his shotgun, which he took into the cafe on December 15 at 8.33am.
      
None of the rounds struck anyone apart from Johnson, "although he appears to have been trying to do so", Gormly added.
      
The inquest will look into Monis's claims his actions were an attack on Australia by the Islamic State group and whether he had any terrorist associations.
     
 But Gormly noted "at present it seems he had not established any contact" with the militant organisation.
     
Australia raised its threat level to high in September and carried out a series of counter-terrorism raids following a flow of its nationals to Iraq and Syria to fight with Islamic State and other jihadist groups.
      
Questions raised in the siege's aftermath about why Monis, who had a history of extremism and violence, was free on bail -- despite facing serious charges including abetting the murder of his ex-wife -- will been explored.
      
The hearing was told Coroner Michael Barnes had commissioned an independent review into police handling of the siege. It will be undertaken by British police specialising in siege management, supported by experts from other Australian states.
      
"If there were defects in the management of the siege, they will be exposed," Gormly said.