A convicted rapist who fatally shot himself during a Melbourne siege hated the nickname "Mad Dog" given to him in media reports, a close friend says.
Antonio Loguancio died in a Glenroy bungalow in March 2013 after a tense stand-off with police.
Sheila Archer, who once lived with Loguancio when he worked with her husband, spoke to him a couple of times over the phone during the incident, the Victorian Coroners Court heard on Tuesday.
Barrister Simon Moglia, for Loguancio's family, asked her about Loguancio's reaction to media reports at the time, which referred to him as a "sadistic rapist", "Mad Dog off the leash" and "free to attack other women".
Ms Archer said Loguancio hated the nickname and she considered the coverage "such a beat up".
"That wasn't Tony as we knew him," she said.
But when she spoke with Loguancio he was more worried about going back to jail.
"He was more concerned that he had dug himself a hole so deep he couldn't get out," Ms Archer told the inquest.
She told Loguancio not to hurt any innocent people, including police, because it sounded like it was leading to a "shoot out".
Loguancio's last words to Ms Archer, a close friend, were "I'm sorry, Mum, I really tried. I'm not a bad person."
She said Loguancio was a hard worker and a tough, but child-like, man.
Ms Archer's evidence comes one day after Nine News chief-of-staff Kate McGrath appeared to give evidence about her talks with Loguancio.
Ms McGrath spoke to Loguancio over the phone for about 54 minutes during the siege, the inquest was told.
Loguancio was on the run after assaulting his partner and breaching parole when police tracked him to the Justin Avenue property on March 1, 2013.
Police released details about the manhunt to the media because he was considered dangerous, the inquest was told.
"The fact that he had committed three offences whilst on bail was a reason for us to go to the media," Inspector Tony Glenane said earlier during the hearing.
The inquest before coroner Audrey Jamieson continues.
* For support and information about suicide prevention, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
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