Advertisement

Monis bail fury: "None of this would've happened"

FIRST ON 7: The controversy over bail for the Lindt Cafe gunman has reached high levels of the police force and senior officers are being criticised for failing to act.

They left a recommendation to oppose bail sitting on a desk, allowing Man Monis to remain free in the community.

And for the first time, one of the surviving siege hostage is speaking out.

When Marcia Mikhael stood in tears at the windows of the Lindt Cafe she had no idea the man with the gun behind her was a known violent criminal.


Hostages were forced to hold the black flag with white Arabic writing up to the window, in full view of 7News cameras in the adjacent building. Photo: AAP
Hostages were forced to hold the black flag with white Arabic writing up to the window, in full view of 7News cameras in the adjacent building. Photo: AAP

"How was he out on bail? If he wasn't on bail none of this would've happened," Mikhael told Seven.

Debate has raged over the fact cafe gunman Man Haron Monis was out on bail, despite being on charges of accessory to the murder of his ex-wife, and despite a further 40 charges of sexual assault from seven alleged victims.

Monis was once acquitted in a Sydney court of threatening to shoot his former partner Noleen Hayson Pal (pictured right).
Monis was once acquitted in a Sydney court of threatening to shoot his former partner Noleen Hayson Pal (pictured right).

Ms Mikhael is the first of the 18 hostages to go public and criticise the bail system.

"Upset, disappointed I guess with our justice system," she said.

"How could he be on bail? How can someone so dangerous like him be allowed to be on bail?"

The family of hostage Marcia Mikhael spoke of their most fearful hours as they watched the Sydney siege unfold from their home in Canada.
The family of hostage Marcia Mikhael spoke of their most fearful hours as they watched the Sydney siege unfold from their home in Canada.

The 50-year-old Iranian refugee was bailed first by Penrith Local Court Magistrate Bill Pierce.

"I can't about these things, I can't talk my friend," the Magistrate told 7News.

But revelations today that a submission from Homicide Squad detectives to have Man Monis locked away was never seen by the Magistrate, because senior police never passed it on.

Amirah Droudis, Monis's partner, is charged with the murder of his ex-partner. Her bail was revoked following the siege. Photo: AAP
Amirah Droudis, Monis's partner, is charged with the murder of his ex-partner. Her bail was revoked following the siege. Photo: AAP

"For this submission never to have reached the DPP is a complete and utter travesty, and it just compounds the horror that we've all seen as a result of the siege,"

The police say the submission was never passed on because they were advised they were always going to lose any attempt to have Man Monis locked away.

They point out that even when they did fight to have him jailed in the sex offences case the Magistrate again let him go.

The controversial issue will be examined in detail at the Coronial Inquest.