Man of many faces: Man Haron Monis

THE MANY LIVES OF SYDNEY SIEGE GUNMAN MAN HARON MONIS

Names and aliases: Mohammad Hassan Manteghi Boroujerdi, Sheik Haron, Ayatollah Manteghi Boroujerdi.

1964: Born in Iran.

1982: Began seminary studies at Imam Sadiq University in Tehran.

1995: Accused of embezzling $US200,000 entrusted to him by 50 clients at a travel agency he managed in Iran. Flees the country shortly after to Australia, via Malaysia.

1996: Seeks asylum in Australia.

1998: Wins confidence of Sydney's local Shi'ite community after claiming to be high ranking scholar, given podium to deliver lectures and classes. Disowned by community shortly after when members observed erratic behaviour.

2000: Iran requests, and is denied, his extradition to face embezzlement charges.

2000: Chains himself to NSW parliament, demanding his wife and children be allowed into Australia.

2001: Granted asylum in Australia after claiming he had secret information about Iran.

2007: Starts sending offensive letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers.

2008: Sydney Shi'ite cleric Kamal Mousselmani demands federal police investigate Monis, claiming he was not a real sheik.

2011: Charged with stalking and intimidating his former partner Noleen Hayson Pal. Pleaded not guilty.

2013, April: Pal is killed in a stabbing attack and her body set alight.

2013, September: Monis convicted for penning offensive letters to the grieving families of several Australian soldiers.

2013, October: Arrested for being an accessory before and after the fact to Pal murder. His girlfriend Amirah Droudis charged with the murder.

2013, December: Granted strict conditional bail.

2014, January: Monis chains himself to CBD court claiming he had been tortured in jail.

2014, April: Appeared in Kogarah Local Court charged with sexual intercourse without consent and two counts of indecent assault relating to incidents in 2002 where he touched a woman's breasts and painted liquid on her while working as a "spiritual healer".

2014, May: Granted bail on the condition of daily reporting, six days after new bail laws take effect.

2014, December: Converts from Shi'ite Islam to radical form of Sunni Islam.

2014, December 12: Appears before the High Court for an unsuccessful application to have his conviction for sending the threatening letters overturned.

2014, December 14: Rants about Australian "terrorism" on his personal website.

2014, December 15: Takes 17 hostages in Sydney CBD's popular Lindt cafe. The 16-hour siege leaves him and two hostages dead.