Sydney Siege Gunman Man Haron Monis’ Partner Amirah Droudis’ Bail Revoked

Sydney Siege hostage-taker Man Haron Monis’ partner has had her bail revoked. Amirah Droudis is charged with murdering Monis’ ex-wife, Noleen Hayson Pal, and had been freed on bail since December 2013.

Monis was killed on Tuesday during a final standoff with the police. He took the customers and staff of the Lindt Chocolate Café in Martin Place hostages for more than 16 hours before the police stormed inside the premises. Two innocent civilians died in the hostage drama.

His partner, Droudis, wasn’t in the café, or even appeared to have been involved in the tragedy. She has been sent to jail for a different reason. She has been charged with killing Pal, who was found stabbed 17 times and alight in an apartment stairwell in April 2013. Monis was charged with being an accessory before and after the fact to Pal’s murder.

In December of the same year, the couple were granted bail at Penrith Local Court after the magistrate called the charges against them “weak.” A year later, though, prosecutors successfully had her bail revoked.

NSW Attorney-General Brad Hazzard asked for the Director of Public Prosecutions to review Droudis’ bail conditions in light of new circumstances involving the tragic siege and the videos Droudis posted online. As the DPP argued, the videos were proof that Droudis’ willingness to act on Monis’ behalf, showing that she poses “unacceptable risk” to public safety.

The defence team described the bail review as frivolous and based on irrelevant evidence. However, Magistrate Graeme Henson agreed with the prosecutors that the case against Droudis is stronger now than it was when she was granted bail 12 months ago.

Droudis, who has kept silence since the Sydney Siege tragedy, was handcuffed and taken to Silverwater Remand Centre following the magistrate’s decision to have her bail revoked. Her case has been adjourned to February 27.

NSW Premier Mike Baird issued premier Mike Baird welcomed the court’s decision, saying in a statement, “The NSW Government expects community safety to be front and centre of all bail decisions and that is why the Attorney General expressed concern and requested a review of the case.”