Why did the men run out of the Lindt Cafe?
More stories from the hostages of the Lindt Cafe siege have been revealed today.
The answers to the questions that many had while the siege was unfolding have been answered by the surviving hostages in a 7News Special airing on Sunday night.
One state politician criticised the apparent lack of action from those held inside the Martin Place cafe.
Gunman Man Haron Monis entered the cafe just after 8.30am on December 15.
Wearing camouflage pants, black jacket, baseball cap, black backpack, self-styled Islamic cleric Monis, 50, entered the cafe carrying a plastic bag.
He was carrying a hidden pump-action shotgun sawn off at the butt and barrel.
At the inquest opened into the deaths of cafe manager Tori Johnson and Katrina Dawson, the court heard the gunman shot Mr Johnson execution style, while Ms Dawson was caught in the crossfire as police stormed in.
We have now been able to hear the hostage’s reasoning in the face of torment while under the control of a madman.
After weeks of questions and criticisms over the why the male hostages inside Lindt Cafe didn't do more in the midst of the madness.
John O'Brien, 82, the first of the hostages out that day answers the accusations.
He told 7News: “If I could have organised two or three of the other men to jump him or get something to hit him over the head with, but we couldn't organise anything because we were separated.”
Critics like controversial New South Wales MP Fred Nile accused the men of abandoning the women that day.
He said: "Usually the men try to protect the women, and it seems the men were trying to save their own skin."
But in the 7News Special the hostages explain the enormous difficulties: having to stay silent, separate, and eyes shut.
Plus there was the ever-present threat and horror of what was inside the gunman's backpack.
Pushpendu Ghosh, one of the hostages, said: “And then he said, there is a bomb here.
Mel Doyle asks: "Did you believe him?”
Mr Ghosh replied: “It’s very difficult not to believe a threat like that.”
The News Special will air never before seen video and extraordinary detail like how Marcia Mickael lay with victim Katrina Dawson in her final moments as gunfire sprayed the air above them.
Ms Mikhael, 43, a Westpac executive and mother of three from Glenwood in Sydney's north west said: "I could smell the gunpowder, I could feel the heat of things like nearly hitting me.”
The special airs from 6pm.
