Tori Johnson's final texts released in Lindt cafe siege inquest

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This was published 7 years ago

Tori Johnson's final texts released in Lindt cafe siege inquest

By Daniel McCulloch
Updated

Thirty minutes before he was shot dead by gunman Man Haron Monis, Lindt cafe manager Tori Johnson sent an ominous text to his loved ones.

"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," the text, sent at 1.43am on December 16, 2014, read.

The message was conveyed to police 10 minutes later, but Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins, who was in command of the siege at the time, says he was never made aware of it.

Mr Jenkins said he would not have expected to receive news of the text from his position at Police Operations Command, but agreed it was important information for those at the front line.

Tori Johnson sent texts to his family just half an hour before he was killed.

Tori Johnson sent texts to his family just half an hour before he was killed.

"It's certainly important from a forward command position, yes," Mr Jenkins told an inquest on Wednesday.

Hours earlier, at 10pm, Mr Johnson had sent another text to his loved ones: "I love you all - still alive - very scared."

Mr Jenkins told the inquest he was not made aware of this text, either.

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Police stormed the cafe at 2.13am after Monis shot Mr Johnson dead from point-blank range.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins.

Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins. Credit: Daniel Munoz

Barrister Katrina Dawson died after being hit by a police bullet as they stormed inside, while Monis was also killed.

Mr Jenkins was repeatedly pressed to reveal if he would have supported police storming the cafe when Monis first discharged his gun at 2.03am, if they'd known he was aiming at a group of fleeing hostages, and not above their heads as police first believed.

Tori Johnson told his family via text how he was scared of siege gunman Man Haron Monis.

Tori Johnson told his family via text how he was scared of siege gunman Man Haron Monis.

"If I was convinced the shot was made directly at hostages then yes, I would have thought an EA (emergency action) should have been activated ... but I was not told that at the time and I don't know that to be the case today," he told the inquest.

Mr Jenkins was again pushed to state what his attitude would have been if he'd known Monis shot at the hostages.

"If there was unequivocal evidence that the shot was at hostages then that would have raised the level to an imminent threat of serious injury or death, and that would have warranted an EA," he said.

But later, Mr Jenkins insisted storming the cafe was never his decision to make.

"It's the forward commander's responsibly to call an EA," he said.

The inquest continues.

AAP

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