A reporter at Tuesday morning's press conference posed the uncomfortable question about the Martin Place siege that will now surely become the subject of further investigation: "How was this gunman free on bail?".
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Man Haron Monis, a self-styled sheikh shot dead by police in the early hours of Tuesday morning, was before the courts on two separate and serious matters: more than 40 sexual assault charges involving seven alleged victims; and as an accessory to the murder of his former partner.
He died seven years after first coming to the attention of police, when he penned poisonous letters to the family of Australian soldiers killed in the Middle East .
Monis, 50, was given bail at Penrith Local Court on December 12 last year after being charged with being an accessory before and after the fact to the 2013 murder of his former partner, mother-of-two Noleen Hasyon Pal.
His then partner, Amirah Droudis, is also charged with the murder of Ms Pal, who was stabbed multiple times in April last year and set alight in a western Sydney unit block.
The accused pair were given bail after a hearing lasting more than three hours.
In January this year, a 27-year-old woman complained to police that she had been sexually assualted by Monis, after attending "spiritual healing sessions" in response to an advertisement placed in newspapers aimed at the Fijian-Indian, Macedonian, Spanish and Chinese communities.
That complaint triggered a police investigation, which saw Monis charged in April.
In October, Monis was further charged with an extra 40 indecent and sexual assault charges, including 22 counts of aggravated sexual assault and 14 counts of aggravated indecent assault relating to six other women.
Premier's distress
Addressing the press on Tuesday morning, NSW Premier, Mike Baird, gave an assurance he would answer all questions on the siege, and its tragic conclusion.
Mr Baird was quizzed on "reports that this guy was out on bail. Are you concerned that potentially that allowed for this to happen?"
"Well, I'm concerned that there was a vicious, horrendous attack that has taken place in the heart of our city, and there are many questions that will come in the coming hours, days and weeks," Mr Baird said.
"What I can assure you is I will answer every single one of them.
"We will get to the bottom of events and we will do everything possible to ensure we do not see happen again in this city what we saw in the last 24 hours."
'Weak case'
According to reports of last December's accessory to murder bail application, Magistrate Darryl Pearce said at the time there were significant flaws in the Crown's case.
"It is a weak case," he said a year ago.
Each of the accused had an alibi, the witness statements varied significantly, they didn't have anywhere else to go and they weren't a threat to the public, the magistrate said.
"If there is a threat it was to this woman who was murdered."
The Crown alleged that Monis went to elaborate lengths to keep himself away from the crime, including faking a heart attack that led to a staged car accident on the day.
He also faked a robbery to his Werrington flat and took out contents insurance on the specific items that he reported stolen on the day of the murder, the Crown said.
The court heard Mr Monis and Ms Pal were involved in a bitter custody battle at the time of her death.
Long-running battle
Monis recently likened himself on his own webpage to Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, claiming the most recent charges against him have been laid for "political reasons".
His website also carries a quote, posted earlier this month stating: "I used to be a Rafidi, but not any more. Now I am a Muslim, Alhamdu Lillah".
It has been Monis' on-going legal battle for his conviction for penning the poisonous letters to the families of dead Australian soldiers between 2007 and 2009 that has consumed him.
It is understood Monday's incident followed an unsuccessful, last-ditch attempt in the High Court on Friday to have the charges overturned.
Monis was sentenced to 300 hours of community service and placed on a two year good behaviour bond for the "offensive and deplorable letters" sent with the assistance of his girlfriend Amirah Droudis.
They were sent to the families of Private Luke Worsley and Lance Corporal Jason Marks, who were killed in Afghanistan in 2007 and 2008.
He also sent a letter in 2009 to the family of the Austrade official Craig Senger, who was killed in the bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Jakarta in 2007.
Monis claimed the letters were his own version of a "flower basket" or "condolence card".
Bree Till, widow of Sergeant Brett Till, killed while defusing a bomb on March 12, 2009, said at the time of his conviction: "We sat reading these letters (which) made out to be something supportive but then the juxtaposition of this man accusing my husband of being a child-killer while dictating how I should raise my children. It was scary," she said.
He fought the validity of the charges all the way to the High Court arguing they were political and only sought to persuade the families to oppose Australia's military involvement in Afghanistan.
But when he lost that battle, and had to stand trial, he pleaded guilty to all 12 charges against him in August 2013.
It is understood Monday's incident followed an unsuccessful, last-ditch attempted in the High Court on Friday to have the charges overturned.
'Covered in excrement'
Monis claimed he suffered poor treatment while in prison, Manny Conditsis, a Sydney lawyer who represented Monis last year said.
"He was put through let's say some very unpleasant events, involving matters of excrement over himself and his cell," he said.
"This is a one-off random individual.
"It's not a concerted terrorism event or act.
"It's a damaged goods individual who's done something outrageous."
