Lindt Cafe manager's tragic final texts to loved ones revealed
Tori Johnson’s final desperate words to his loved ones, sent via text in the moments before he was shot dead, have been revealed in the inquest into the Sydney siege.
The Lindt Café manager was one of 18 held hostage by gunman Man Haron Monis on December 16, 2014.
Johnson was shot at point blank range before the 17 hour siege ended.
59 seconds later police stormed the Lindt Café and killed Monis.
Barrister Katrina Dawson was also killed in the crossfire by a bullet fragment.
During the inquest Barrister Michael O’Connell SC, counsel for Ms Dawson’s family, said Tori Johnson had sent a text message to a family member about 10pm.
It read: “I love you all, I’m still alive, very scared.”
At 1.43am exactly 30 minutes before he was killed, Johnson sent another message to his loved ones, which was conveyed to police.
“He’s (Monis) increasingly agitated, walks around when he hears a noise outside with a hostage in front of him. Wants to release one person in good faith, tell police.”
Assistant Commissioner Mark Jenkins was police commander during final hours of the siege but revelations that he was unaware of crucial information during his command continue to emerge during his testimony.
During the inquest he declared he ‘wasn’t aware’ of the text Johnson had sent.
“I was aware of a call to the (police) media unit that Monis was looking to release one hostage,” he said.
Jenkins said he also wasn’t aware of calls and messages sent by hostage Selina Win Pe over several hours regarding the gunman’s threats to hurt hostages, until 45 minutes before the gunman killed Johnson.
On Tuesday he started he had been left in the dark about crucial information during his command.
This included having access to live footage during the siege, despite most of Australia being able to view it.
He also stated he did not have police logs and remained unaware Monis had fired another gunshot before killing Johnson, until 18 moths after the siege.
In the inquest Jenkins has been questioned about whether or not police should have acted sooner and stormed the café before hostages were killed.
