Sydney Gunman Was Lying Narcissist - Inquest

The Sydney siege gunman was a self-obsessed liar who was kicked out of a motorcycle gang for being "weird", ran a spiritual healing business and once flew to New Zealand and back to prove a point, an inquest has heard.

Two people died after Man Haron Monis targeted the Lindt cafe on 15 December last year, taking 18 people hostage.

Police stormed the building and killed the 50-year-old moments after he forced cafe manager Tori Johnson to kneel, before shooting him in the head at close range, the inquest was told.

Barrister Katrina Dawson died when fragments of a police bullet ricocheted off walls and hit her.

The inquest heard Monis was on bail for a string of sex assault charges, as well as a charge of being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife when he carried out the attack.

In their opening address, lawyers said Monis frequently protested against perceived injustices, such as chaining himself to buildings and going on hunger strike.

On one occasion he even flew to New Zealand and immediately returned to try to prove he was being treated unfairly by customs officers.

He also tried to join the notorious Rebels Motorcycle Club in 2012 or 2013, said lawyer Sophie Callan, but was kicked out for being "weird".

"Ultimately, he was rejected by the Rebels and they took his motorbike," she said.

At the same time, the inquest heard Monis often towed the line – registering his many name changes, filing his taxes and applying for police approval for his protests.

"He could be plausible, courteous and controlled," said Ms Callan.

"But he was also almost entirely consumed in his own self-importance and when challenged, his self-control would occasionally slip and his reaction was disproportionate."

Monis also had a habit of lying and concocting tales, from claiming he was an Iranian spy to shaving 12 years of his age when he met his wife, she added.

Lawyers said he had "some mental health issues" but stressed that these were "modest" and appeared not to provide a full explanation for his actions.

At the time of the siege, Monis' life was in a downward spiral.

He was charged with 43 counts of aggravated indecent and sexual assault - said to have been committed at his spiritual healing and clairvoyant business between 2002 and 2010.

He was also charged with being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife, found burned to death in a Sydney apartment block.

As well as this, he was in debt, had lost a custody battle and had been rejected by Australia's Islamic community.

"His grandiose self-assessments of the past were seemingly not coming to fruition," said lawyer Jeremy Gormly.

The inquest is aiming to explain how the hostages and Monis died, how authorities responded and whether the siege could have been prevented.

More than 100 witnesses, including the surviving hostages are scheduled to give evidence.

Although he claimed his attack was in affiliation with Islamic State and asked for an IS flag during the siege, it has emerged Monis had no contact with the terror organisation before the siege.

Coroner Michael Barnes said the inquest was of "national significance".

He told the court: "Was Monis a so-called lone wolf prosecuting an ISIS-inspired terrorist act, or was he a deranged individual pursuing some personal, private grievance in a public manner?

"They are real questions we must try and answer if an explanation for the siege is to be forthcoming and strategies to avoid a repeat are to be developed."