The Coronial Inquest Into The Sydney Siege Has Opened

The Coronial Inquest into the horrific events that unfolded in the Lindt Cafe on Martin Place during the 15th and 16th of December of last year opened in Sydney today. NSW Coroner Michael Barnes oversaw the inquest, which for the first time – at least publicly – detailed the course and timeline of events that unfolded during the siege crisis.

WHAT WE LEARNED
The inquest revealed that gunman Man Haron Monis entered the Lindt Cafe at 8:33am on December the 15th. He was wearing camouflage pants, a large backpack, and was carrying a blue plastic bag. Somewhere on his person he was carrying a concealed, shortened shotgun that had been sawn off at the barrel and at the butt.
Monis asked to speak to the cafe manager. Tori Johnson approached and spoke with him. Shortly thereafter, a stressed-looking Johnson approached a staff member and stated, “I need you to get my keys from the office. We’re closed. Everything is okay, tell the staff to stay calm.
The doors to the cafe were locked. Monis put on a vest and a bandanna before rising and stating “This is an attack. I have a bomb.” Throughout the course of the following 16 hours, Monis never once removed his backpack, and continually threatened to shoot hostages.
Monis forced Johnson to call Triple 0 and state “This is an attack on Australia by Islamic State.” Counsel assisting the corner, Jeremy Gormly, made a very clear point to state that “at present it does not appear he established contact with Islamic State before the siege,” meaning its classification as a terrorist act is questionable; rather, it’s more likely to be ruled as the act of a lone rogue.
(A quick warning that the information to follow is graphic in nature.)
At 2:14am, and allegedly “without warning,” Monis made Johnson kneel and shot him from a distance of approximately 75cm, effectively executing him. Johnson died instantly. A police sniper spotted the shooting through the scope of his rifle, and called it in. This triggered the police raiding the building.
Monis fired two more shots from his shotgun before attempting to reload. None of these shots struck hostages or police. Police used a total of 11 distractors (“flash-bangs“) and fired a total of 22 rounds as they entered the building. Monis was struck 13 times – 11 in the body, twice in the head – as he attempted to reload his weapon. He too died instantly.
The coronial inquiry then revealed that Katrina Dawson was struck by six fragments of bullets fired by police that subsequently ricocheted off the walls of the building. One struck a major artery. She passed away in hospital a short while later.
One officer and three hostages were also struck by police bullet fragments. All survived.
The inquest then adjourned until a yet-to-be-disclosed date.
WHAT NOW?
The coroner stated that the inquest will look into an additional range of factors surrounding the siege, and the gunman, including bail policy and conditions, the monitoring of Monis’ mental health, the response and handling of the situation by police, and the role of social media in affecting the resolution of the siege, among others.
Representatives for both Johnson and Dawson were present during today’s proceedings, with Coroner Barnes making a point to address them and the cold, forensic nature of the information revealed.

When we appear dispassionate, we are not unconcerned. When we appear clinical, we are not uncaring.

The inquest continues.
Photo: Don Arnold via Getty Images.


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