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Police bullets killed Sydney siege hostage

By Danielle Haynes
Katrina Dawson, left, and Tori Johnson were hostages killed after a 17-hour standoff in Australia. Family photos courtesy AAP
Katrina Dawson, left, and Tori Johnson were hostages killed after a 17-hour standoff in Australia. Family photos courtesy AAP

SYDNEY, Jan. 28 (UPI) -- One of the hostages who died during a siege at a chocolate cafe in Sydney was killed by police bullets, investigators said.

Hostage Katrina Dawson, 38, died after being hit by fragments from six police bullets at the culmination of the 17-hour siege Dec. 12. One of the bullets hit a major blood vessel, causing her to die.

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These details came out Wednesday during the first day of an inquest at the New South Wales coroners' court into the siege.

Police stormed the cafe and opened fire on gunman Man Haron Monis at the end of the siege after they witnessed Monis shooting another hostage, Tori Johnson, 34, in the back of the head. Johnson was the manager of the Lindt Cafe.

Counsel assisting the coroner, Jeremy Gormly, said police observed Monis pointing his sawed-off shotgun about 29 inches from the back of Johnson's head.

Prior to shooting Johnson, Monis ate a piece of chocolate cake and drank tea. He spoke directly with Johnson, whom police described as looking visibly stressed.

Monis, an Iranian native, was well known to authorities in Australia prior to taking hostages at the cafe. The self-proclaimed cleric's criminal record included charges that he penned poisonous letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers between 2007 and 2009; a 2013 charge for accessory to the murder of his ex-wife; and 50 recent charges of indecent exposure and sexual assault.

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Monis was out on bail when he stormed the cafe.

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