Magistrates and lawyers involved in granting bail to Sydney cafe siege gunman Man Haron Monis have received death threats, says the NSW Bar Association.
There has been growing public outcry over why Monis was on bail and not on terror watchlists, with Prime Minister Tony Abbott among those demanding answers.
NSW Bar Association President Jane Needham SC says she understands the fury following such a "terribly upsetting episode" but threatening judges and demanding they be stood down is not appropriate.
"To make death threats as has been done against members of the profession for doing a job is really an unfortunate reaction."
Mr Abbott said on Wednesday an urgent and wide-ranging review would examine how Monis was granted asylum, citizenship and welfare benefits.
The 50-year-old was granted bail while facing a raft of violent charges including being an accessory to the murder of his former wife when he took 18 people hostage inside a popular CBD cafe on Monday morning.
The siege ended 16 hours later with the death of barrister Katrina Dawson, shop manager Tori Johnson and Monis.
Monis had been on an ASIO watchlist in 2008 when he sent offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers but later dropped off the list.
Sydney lawyer Katrina Dawson (L) and Lindt cafe manager Tori Johnson (R), both of whom were killed in the siege. (AAP/Supplied)
Ms Needham said magistrates have to make their decisions on the basis of what is before them at the time.
"The jobs of the judiciary are very difficult, very complex," Ms Needham told ABC radio on Friday.
"It's very important to remember that lawyers are just doing their job.
"Barristers in particular have an ethical obligation to appear for whoever seeks their services within their expertise - that's known as the cab-rank rule.
"It is a very understandable but wrong-headed reaction, and I say that with the greatest of respect of those who've been calling for reviews," she said.
Monis had been taken in and out of custody throughout the end of 2013 and 2014 after being charged with a number of offences, including being an accessory to the murder of his former de facto Noleen Pal.
In December last year he was granted strict conditional bail following a three-hour hearing.
Then six days after the new bail laws came into effect, Monis was again released from custody on May 26 after being charged with a number of fresh offences relating to the aggravated indecent and sexual assault of a woman in 2002.
When he reappeared in court in October to face more than 30 extra sexual assault charges against six other women, court papers reveal that his strict conditional bail was continued by the consent of prosecutors.
Ms Needham said the circumstances of his granting bail is something the record will have to show.
She said the Martin Place siege had hit the NSW Bar Association very hard as the Lindt Cafe was a popular hang-out for the members, and barrister Katrina Dawson was one of the two hostages killed on Tuesday morning.
"Katrina was one of our best and brightest barristers who will be greatly missed by her colleagues and friends of the NSW Bar," Ms Needham said earlier in the week.
"She was a devoted mother of three children and a valued member of her floor and of our community."
Share
