State government ministers have reportedly raised concerns amid claims they were misled by NSW's top cops when they were briefed about bullets fired by Lindt Cafe gunman Man Haron Monis.
After the siege Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn reportedly left cabinet members believing hostages Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson were killed by Monis, reports News Corp.
But it has since emerged that Mrs Dawson, 37, died after she was hit by bullet fragments from a police weapon.
A source has claimed that the high ranking police officer used words to the effect: “Do not be surprised if there were no police bullets in anyone.”
It is also being reported by Fairfax media that tensions are rising within the NSW Police force over the strategy they should have used on the day of the siege.
The police waited for hours and senior officers drew up a "direct action" plan, under which they would storm the cafe and take Monis by surprise.
Hours into the siege the plan was 'overruled by a command decision' reports Fairfax when Monis fired his first shot into the ceiling at 2.03am after six of the hostages escaped from the cafe.
- Heart wrenching note from siege victim's daughter
- Tori Johnson loved flowers, partner says
- Thousands pay tribute at Martin Place
Monis executed Lindt Cafe manager Tory Johnson about 2.10am and NSW Police immediately stormed the cafe and through a blaze of gunfire they killed Monis.
It is understood two of the bullets fired by police ricocheted and hit Mrs Dawson, a mother-of-three and well respected lawyer, tragically killing her.
Fairfax media reports that multiple police sources have said Ms Dawson, 38, was struck by police fire that was not a direct shot and possibly a ricochet, when Tactical Operations Unit officers stormed the cafe just after 2am on December 16.
Monis had just executed another of the hostages, cafe manager Tori Johnson, at close range, and was killed in the shoot-out.
The circumstances surrounding the 16-hour Martin Place siege is still the subject of a critical incident investigation by the homicide squad.
- WATCH: The moment the siege broke on live TV
- Mother receives chilling text from son in siege
- PICTURES: A city in lockdown
Ms Dawson's cause of death will be determined by the NSW Coroner once that investigation is completed.
A police spokeswoman told Fairfax the force would not be commenting on any aspect of the investigation until that process had been completed.
