Inquest hears Lindt victim texts

Thirty minutes before he was shot dead by Man Haron Monis, Lindt Cafe manager Tori Johnson warned his loved ones the gunman was growing more agitated.

The text was forwarded to police 10 minutes later, but never reached the senior officer in charge.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins, who was in command in the final hours of the siege, has told an inquest he was never made aware of two texts Mr Johnson sent on the night.

One text sent to loved ones at 10pm on December 15 read: "I love you all - still alive - very scared."

The other, sent at 1.43am and conveyed to police at 1.53am, contained a warning: "He's increasing agitated ... walks around when he hears a noise outside with a hostage in front of him ... wants to release one person out of good faith - tell police."

Mr Jenkins said on Wednesday he was not aware of these messages, nor of phone calls from another hostage warning Monis was about to harm somebody.

The inquest heard he would not have expected to receive news of the texts from his position at Police Operations Command, but agreed it was important information for those at the front line.

Mr Johnson was shot dead at point-blank range by Monis shortly after 2am on December 16.

Officers then stormed the building, shooting Monis dead, while lawyer Katrina Dawson was also killed after being hit by a police bullet.