Inquest to look into Monis bail

The families of Lindt Cafe siege victims Katrina Dawson and Tori John were relieved when an inquest said it would look into why the gunman was on bail.

The family of Sydney siege victim Katrina Dawson have welcomed the decision by the NSW state coroner to allow an inquest into why gunman Man Haron Monis was free on bail.

Prosecutors lost a bid to block the inquiry into the Lindt Cafe siege that would examine why Monis was released on bail eight weeks before the Martin Place tragedy, despite facing serious charges of being an accessory to murder and sexual assault.

State Coroner Michael Barnes will investigate Monis's bail history and consider whether a "causal link" can be found between Monis's bail and the deaths that occurred during the siege.

The coroner will also inquire into whether prosecutors responded appropriately when Monis sought and was granted bail.

The families of victims Ms Dawson and Tori Johnson had joined with counsel assisting the inquest to oppose the submission by the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and were relieved with the outcome.

"The coroner made a good decision," Ms Dawson's father, Sandy Dawson, said outside the inquiry in Sydney on Friday.

The DPP attempted to have bail matters excluded from the inquest, arguing they were outside the coroner's jurisdiction and that any investigation would be "counter-factual".

When it resumes on August 17, the inquest will consider matters of bail as well as terrorism and guns over a session lasting up to three weeks.


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Source: AAP


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