News Digest

Police bullet fragments killed Sydney cafe siege victim

One of the two hostages who died in a 16-hour siege at a Sydney cafe in December was killed by ricochets of a police bullet or bullets, an inquest into the deadly stand-off heard Thursday. Barrister and mother-of-three Katrina Dawson, 38, was killed along with cafe manager Tori Johnson, 34, and Iranian-born gunman Man Haron Monis, 50, when police stormed the cafe in Sydney’s financial district in the early hours of December 16. Some 22 shots were fired by the officers at Monis after 11 flash bangs were thrown into the cafe, while Monis fired two shots, the hearing was told.

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

Gormly said the second hostage, Lindt Chocolat Cafe manager Tori Johnson, was shot in the back of the head by gunman Man Haron Monis after being forced to kneel. Monis was struck by several bullets to the head and body. The inquest at the NSW Coroners’ Court will outline what happened in the siege, investigate the police response to the hostage situation and delve into the background and motivations of Monis. A separate joint investigation commissioned by the federal and New South Wales governments is set to submit a report into the siege in the next few days.

[Tori] 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.

Jeremy Gormly