A formal inquest into the siege that occurred in Martin Place in December last year began yesterday at the Coroner’s Court in Sydney. The inquest hopes to establish critical facts about the siege, including the actions of gunmen Man Haron Monis, the response by NSW Police and the final moments of the lives of hostages Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson.
Jeremy Gormly SC, the lawyer leading the inquest, presented the court with key pieces of evidence that will help the victims and the country piece together what happened during the 16-hour siege. The evidence comes from video footage shot from outside the café and from witness reports from the 15 hostages.
The first crucial piece of information the court heard in relation to the events that led to the horrific end to the siege related to the death of café manager Tori Johnson. Gormly told the court that Johnson was made to kneel on the floor of the café before Monis shot him in the back of the head from a distance of approximately 75cm.
In the immediate aftermath of the siege, it was widely speculated that it was the escape of seven hostages that triggered Monis to fire the shot that killed Johnson, and subsequently leading to the police entering the café. The court heard that this was not the case. According to Gormly, police marksmen watching through the café windows saw Monis fire the shot with no apparent trigger. As soon as police were aware that Monis had fired his weapon, they made the decision to storm the café and end the siege.
“The shot was witnessed by a policemarksman who called it in,” Gormly told the court.
“That resulted in an immediate order to force entry of the cafe.”
The police entered the café and began firing shots at the gunmen, with two full police bullets hitting and killing him. Monis fired three shots back at the police before he was killed.
In this rapid exchange of gunfire at around 2am on the morning of December 16, six bullet fragments ricocheted from hard surfaces in the café and struck 38-year old barrister Katrina Dawson. While no direct bullets hit her, one of these bullet fragments struck her on a major blood vessel, causing her tragic death. This fragment originated from a police bullet, the court was told.
Gormly told the court that if any misconduct had taken place on the part of the police during the siege, it would be uncovered by the inquest.
“This court has no difficulty making criticisms or adverse findings of police if it’s necessary … Every shot fired by Mr Monis and by police officers is likely to be accounted for,” he said.
The inquest will also investigate the conditions surrounding the approval of bail for Monis, who was awaiting trial for aiding and abetting the murder of his ex-wife in 2013. He was also facing 17 sexual assault and aggravated sexual assault charges.
When Monis’s identity was revealed during the siege, many Australians began questioning why he was granted bail given his long history of escalating violence. The court will investigate his hearing and his bail and will determine whether it was legitimately granted.
“Bail operates contrary to the usual presumption of innocence and can result in someone being held in jail before their trial and when they are not yet found guilty,” he said.
“Nevertheless bail is a system that in part aims to prevent offenders from offending again and to ensure they do not abscond before trial.”
“Mr Monis was on trial at the time of the siege. It is necessary to examine without hindsight how he came to be granted bail.”
Gormly said the siege “seemed to break its way into the intimacy of Sydney life”.
“Rarely have such horrifying events… unfolded so publicly,” he said.
It is hoped the inquest will help the victims and the public to better understand the events of that day and their impacts on our people, our government, our police and our society.