Man Monis ‘mastermind’ of ex-wife’s murder, girlfriend Amirah Droudis did his bidding, court hears
LINDT siege gunman Man Haron Monis was the “mastermind” of the murder of his ex wife following a longstanding and bitter dispute with her, a trial has been told today.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
LINDT siege gunman Man Haron Monis was “the mastermind” of the murder of his ex wife following a longstanding and bitter dispute with her, a trial has been told today.
Monis’ girlfriend Amirah Droudis has pleaded not guilty to murdering the 30-year-old woman, who cannot be named for legal reasons, outside a Werrington apartment block on the afternoon of April 21, 2013.
In his opening address at the Supreme Court judge alone trial, senior Crown prosecutor Mark Tedeschi QC said they would also seek to prove Monis’ involvement in the crime.
Monis was facing charges in connection with the woman’s murder when he was killed by police as they stormed the Lindt Cafe following his execution of manager Tori Johnson in December, 2014.
Mr Tedeschi has told the court Droudis carried out the murder because she was prepared “to do his bidding” and was extremely willing to follow his instructions.
Monis had attempted to join a chapter of the Rebels bikie gang to find someone to carry out the murder, and wore the gang’s patches in an attempt to intimidate his ex wife, the court heard.
Mr Tedeschi also said Monis had threatened the woman’s wife and warned her “God is the decision maker, not you”.
The court heard that Droudis met Monis in 2006 when her mother attended his spiritual healing clinic, and they began a relationship soon afterwards.
The trial will hear that by 2012, Monis had separately married the victim and Droudis in religious ceremonies, which are not legally binding, and was engaged to another woman as well.
The trial continues before Justice Peter Johnson.
Nationwide overhaul needed to fix Australia’s housing crisis
The Business Council of Australia has come out swinging on the problems it says are driving up the cost of new homes across the country.
Artist used own paintings to push case to block gold mine
Indigenous artist Nyree Reynolds, whose application led to a gold mine in Blayney being put on ice, submitted her own paintings as evidence the mine should be blocked.