Andrew Scipione and Cath Burn to appear at Lindt inquest

POLICE Commissioner Andrew Scipione and his head of counter-terrorism, Deputy Commissioner Cath Burn, will be called to give evidence at the inquest into the deadly Lindt Cafe next week.

Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn with Commissioner Andrew Scipione will be asked to give evidence at the Lindt siege inquest.

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POLICE Commissioner Andrew Scipione and his head of counter-terrorism, Deputy Commissioner Cath Burn, will be called to give evidence at the inquest into the deadly Lindt Cafe siege next week.

The move, revealed today, follows pressure from the families of slain cafe manager Tori Johnson and barrister Katrina Dawson.

The inquest was told today that both of the police chiefs had given statements to the inquest last week and are expected to be called into the witness box next week with Jeff Loy, who was acting deputy commissioner at the time of the December 2014 siege.

Mr Loy gave his statement some time ago.

Ms Burn is in charge of the state’s counter-terrorism operations.,

“We welcome the fact that these witnesses will be called,” counsel for Mr Johnson’s family, Gabrielle Bashir SC, said today.

Counsel assisting the inquest, Jeremy Gormly SC, said the questioning of the three officers would be restricted to certain topics which have yet to be determined.

CCTV showing the moment the tactical operations unit storm the Lindt cafe in Martin Place killing Man Haron Monis

Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins, at the Lindt Cafe siege inquest. Picture: Adam Taylor

But he said that one would be the phone calls made by Mr Scipione and Ms Burn to the police commander in charge of the siege in the final hours, Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins.

Mr Jenkins initially told the inquest that Mr Scipione called him at 11.59pm on December 15 and told him that direct action - by which police storm the cafe on their own initiative - was to be a last resort.

Mr Jenkins later said he had been mistaken and said Mr Scipione had said no such thing. He said that it was he himself who told Mr Scipione that direct action would be a last resort.

Seven minutes earlier, Ms Burn had called Mr Jenkins to ask about negotiations which had reached stalemate.

Counsel for the NSW Police, Ian Freckelton SC, has earlier told the inquest that Mr Scipione and Ms Burn were hands off during the siege but they were prepared to give evidence.

“They did not give any order, direction or provide any guidance or advice in respect of the conduct of the siege on the day,” Mr Freckelton has said.

But Mr Gormly said today that having read their statements, it was decided that they did need to be called to give evidence on “some matters.”

Police stormed the cafe after gunman Man Monis shot dead Mr Johnson, Ms Dawson died after she was hit by fragments of police bullets.

The inquest continues.