Officer who shot dead Man Monis describes frantic final seconds of Lindt Siege at inquest
THE cool-headed police officer who shot dead Lindt cafe terrorist Man Monis has described his lack of emotion as he did “what I had to do”.
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THE cool-headed police officer who shot dead Lindt cafe terrorist Man Monis has described his lack of emotion as he did “what I had to do”.
“I remember him looking straight at me. I remember looking at him,” Officer A has told the inquest into the deadly Lindt Cafe siege today.
He said he locked eyes with Monis outside the cafe as he waited for one of his team to break the glass doors and never took his focus from the terrorist.
“I never once took my eyes away from Monis,” said the leading senior constable who cannot be named.
It took just 33.4 seconds for Officer A’s Alpha team to race from the loading bay behind the cafe on Phillip Street, blast their way into the cafe and kill Monis. They moved after Monis had shot dead cafe manager Tori Johnson at 2.13am on December 16, 2014.
His red laser pointer moved up from Monis’ chest to his head as Officer A fired 17 rounds, the inquest has heard.
The cafe was in darkness as he moved into the room on the left shoulder of Alpha A, who was carrying the ballistic shield.
“Once the door was breached ... I remember walking in through that door and I remember looking at him (Monis) and focusing on him,” he said.
“My recollection is that as we made entry, Monis has shot at us as we were coming through the door.
“I remember him standing facing in my direction slightly on an angle with his shotgun in front, probably a bit lower, pointing it in our direction.
Heavily armed police outside the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place. Picture: Gordon McComiskie
“As I moved forward I started to engage, sorry, fire at Monis ensuring that my laser pointer was on his chest.
“I remember he actually shot back at us again and I remember ... I never took my eyes off him but I remember flinching because I thought I was about to be shot.
“I ensured my laser was still on Monis. I continued to engage.
“I do remember moving my laser pointer to his head area. I engaged a number of times.
“Then he started to drop to the ground and I continued to engage him ... I continued to fire at him until he went to ground and that’s when I stopped firing.”
Officer A said he believed Monis may have been dropping to one knee to fire again and kept his laser light on him as he walked to him until he “deemed he was not a threat.”
“He was missing a big chunk of his head. I could see that.” he said.
Barrister Katrina Dawson died after being hit by seven fragments of police bullets as she hid beneath a chair behind Monis. It cannot be determined whether those fragments were caused by Officer A or his team leader, Officer B who fired five shots, the inquest as heard.
The inquest continues.
These are the first scenes of what confronted police when they stormed the Lindt Cafe and killed terrorist Man Monis.
The amazing fly-through has been released by the coroner’s court as Officer A, who shot Monis dead, begins his evidence this morning at the inquest into the deadly siege.
Police crime scene experts created these amazing 3D videos of the scene after the siege ended at 2.13am in the early hours of December 15, 2014. There is also the recreation of officers with the Tactical Operations Unit assaulting the cafe through the main Martin Place entrance.
Scenes showing the body of Monis and the areas where cafe manager Tori Johnson and barrister Katrina Dawson have been redacted.
Markers on the floor of the café and the ground outside show the positions of the discharged cartridges after the first two Tactical Operations Unit officers into the café fired a total of 23 bullets.
As many as 13 or 14 hit Monis as he was reloading his pump-action shotgun and was probably hiding behind a chair, or slumped over it.
TOPS COPS QUIZZED ON SIEGE
THE families of slain Lindt Cafe siege hostages yesterday welcomed the decision to call Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and his head of counter-terrorism, Deputy Commissioner Cath Burn, to give evidence at the inquest.
The two police chiefs are expected to go into the witness box next week following pressure from the families of cafe manager Tori Johnson and barrister Katrina Dawson.
Mr Scipione and Ms Burn have indicated through their lawyer, Ian Freckelton QC, that they played no role in making decisions to end the deadly December 2014 siege.
He said there was little “forensic utility” in calling them.
“The position of Scipione and Burn and (then acting deputy commissioner Jeff) Loy is that they did not give any orders, directions or provide any guidance or advice in respect of the conduct of the siege on the day,” Dr Freckelton said.
But counsel assisting the inquest, Jeremy Gormly SC, said yesterday that, having read their statements, it was decided they did need to give evidence on “some matters”.
Assistant Commissioner Jeff Loy, who was acting deputy commissioner at the time, will also be called to the inquest next week.
“We welcome the fact that these witnesses will be called,” counsel for Mr Johnson’s family, Gabrielle Bashir SC, said.
The questioning of the three officers will be restricted to certain topics which have yet to be determined, Mr Gormly said. But he said they would include the phone calls made by Mr Scipione and Ms Burn to the commander in charge of the siege in the final hours, Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins.
Mr Jenkins initially told the inquest Mr Scipione called him at 10.57pm on December 15 and “suggested” direct action was to be a last resort. Mr Jenkins later said he had been mistaken and it was he who made that comment to Mr Scipione.
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