Taxpayers could pay for Monis funeral

Taxpayers, including the hostages held at gunpoint by Man Haron Monis, may have to foot the bill for his funeral arrangements if no one comes forward to claim his body.

The autopsy on Monis, who was killed when his 16-hour siege of a Sydney cafe came to a violent end on Tuesday morning, began on Thursday and could be completed as early as Friday.

The bodies of his two victims, Katrina Dawson, 38, and Tori Johnson, 34, were released to their families on Thursday night.