Investigating the Sydney siege

INVESTIGATING THE SIEGE:

AIMS:

* To find the time, place, manner and cause of each death

* Establish what happened during the siege and why and whether it could have been prevented or responded to more effectively

* Establish implications of the siege on daily life.

EVIDENCE AVAILABLE:

* All hostages have been interviewed and were co-operative, articulate and have a good recollection

* Siege captured with sound recordings and some film

* Autopsies and forensic evidence

* Ballistics report and debris evidence

* CCTV footage from surrounding sites, none from inside cafe

* Phone calls, texts, emails and social media relating to the siege

* Information on Man Haron Monis such as criminal history, gun history, public image, religious claims

EXPECTATIONS:

* A detailed, comprehensive picture of virtually every aspect of the siege

* Its cause, lead-up, the events during and after the siege and the details of Monis's life

* Monis's motives and mindset may not become clear but some reasonable influence will be available

PEOPLE INVOLVED:

* Coroners, detectives, police, forensic specialists, morgue technicians, pathologists

* Hostages and other witnesses

* Lawyers for family of Tori Johnson, family of Katrina Dawson, unnamed tactical officers, Monis's accomplice Amirah Droudis.

INDEPENDENT UK INVESTIGATION TEAM:

* Specialist UK police team with expertise in siege management will work with interstate policing experts to independently assess the NSW Police operation.

SPEED, QUALITY IMPERATIVE:

* Due to national security interests.

(Source: Opening statements of NSW Coroner and counsel assisting)