State’s top cops wash hands of any role in Lindt Cafe siege
THE state’s top cops have washed their hands of any involvement with the deadly Lindt cafe siege.
NSW
Don't miss out on the headlines from NSW. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THE state’s top cops have washed their hands of any involvement with the deadly Lindt cafe siege.
Despite the lives of 18 hostages being at risk from an armed terrorist claiming to have a bomb, Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione and counter-terrorism chief Deputy Commissioner Cath Burn had no role in the police response to the siege, their lawyer said yesterday.
The pair have come under increasing pressure to give evidence to the inquest and it was revealed yesterday they are now making statements, with Assistant Commissioner Jeff Loy, who was acting deputy commissioner at the time of the December 2014 siege.
They are happy to give evidence but nothing they could say would help, counsel for the NSW Police, Ian Freckelton QC, told the inquest yesterday.
“They did not give any order, direction or provide any guidance or advice in respect of the conduct of the siege on the day,” Dr Freckelton said.
“They will say that in their statements.
“Our position is that we cannot identify any forensic utility for you (State Coroner Michael Barnes) in hearing from such witnesses, but each one of them is prepared to come to give evidence.”
Mr Loy was acting deputy commissioner while Nick Kaldas was on sick leave in December 2014 after a long and bitter feud with fellow deputy Ms Burn.
Mr Scipione and Ms Burn — head of Special Operations, which includes the counter-terrorism unit — both left work hours before the siege’s bloody end at 2.13am on December 16, when police stormed the cafe after cafe manager Tori Johnson was shot dead by terrorist Man Monis. Barrister Katrina Dawson died when she was hit by seven fragments of police bullets.
Pressure from the Johnson and Dawson families has forced the senior commanders to make statements.
Counsel assisting the inquest, Jeremy Gormly SC, said whether the officers would be called to the witness box was “actively under review”.
Evidence has already been given at the inquest of two telephone calls from Mr Scipione and Mr Burn seven minutes apart on the night of the siege to the commander in charge, Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins.
Mr Jenkins initially told the inquest Mr Scipione called him at the police operations centre (POC) at 10.57pm on December 15 and “suggested” direct action — in which police would surprise Monis — was to be a “last resort”.
Two days later Mr Jenkins told the inquest that he had been mistaken and that it was him who had made the “last resort” comment, not the commissioner.
He said Ms Burn had called the POC at 10.50pm and talked about negotiations — which had reached stalemate.
Mr Jenkins may also be recalled to the inquest.
Mr Scipione and Ms Burn were the face of the police at media conferences during the siege, along with Premier Mike Baird.
The inquest continues in Sydney.
America’s Cup women gearing up for new fight after shock loss
Shocked Australian sailors hugged and cried when bundled out of the women’s America’s Cup. A quick reset and they were gearing up for a new fight - and another crack at winning the event
Plan to transform ‘informal carpark’ into mega shop top apartments
A vacant block currently being used as an ‘informal carpark’ in a NSW south coast town could soon be transformed into a major shop top apartment complex if $10m plans are approved by a regional council. See the plans.