Cafe siege victims autopsies prioritised

The NSW Coroners Court is aiming to have autopsies completed on the two hostages who died in the Martin Place siege finished by Thursday.

The Lindt cafe's 34-year-old manager Tori Johnson was shot dead in the final minutes of the Sydney siege (right). Also killed was barrister and mother of three Katrina Dawson, 38, who worked in the city (left). (AAP)

The bodies of hostages Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson, who both died in the Sydney siege, should be released to their families before Christmas.

The autopsies have been prioritised and should be completed by Thursday, a spokeswoman from the Attorney-General's department said.

An autopsy on gunman Man Haron Monis is expected to be conducted by the end of the week.