Sydney Siege: Victim Katrina Dawson Killed By Police During Martin Place Shooting, Not By Gunman Man Haron Monis – Report
Sydney Siege victim Katrina Dawson was not killed by hostage-taker Man Haron Monis as first thought, According to the latest police investigation, she was “struck by a police bullet” during the final standoff that also claimed the life of the gunman.
On December 15, Monis took the 18 staff and customers of the Lindt Chocolate café at Martin Place hostage. The terrorist attack lasted over 16 hours, and ended after 2 am on December 16, leaving Monis and two other people dead.
According to initial reports, Monis became extremely agitated when a group of his hostages was able to flee the premises to safety, and had therefore shot café manager Tori Johnson at close range. This prompted the police to storm inside the café. There were other reports that claim Monis shot Johnson after the police burst inside the building.
What is still a mystery, though, is Dawson’s death. According to a tweet posted by Channel 7 reporter Robert Ovadia in December, the 38-year-old barrister was killed by the gunman. He cited a preliminary ballistic report to support his statement.
BREAKING @7NewsSydney Preliminary ballistics report suggests Katrina Dawson was killed by gunman - several shot gun pellets severing aorta.
— Robert Ovadia (@RobertOvadia) December 18, 2014
Sydney Siege Victim Katrina Dawson Killed by Man Haron Monis, Preliminary Report Suggests
Multiple police sources told Fairfax Media that Dawson was not killed by Monis, but by a bullet fired by the Tactical Operations Unit officers during the standoff. She was allegedly struck by police fire, possibly a ricochet, when they stormed inside the café just after Monis executed Johnson. Monis was killed during the shoot-out, while three women were injured.
The NSW Coroner will determine Dawson’s cause of death once the investigation is completed, and the police wouldn’t be commenting on any aspect of the investigation until then.
The Daily Telegraph, meanwhile, adds that Monis was shot up to seven times during the shoot-out. He was shot twice in the head when the officers fired more than 27 rounds between them. Monis was also found with up to 20 shotgun rounds in his pocket.
