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Every detail of the deadly Sydney siege will be scrutinised in a coronial inquest to begin at the end of this month.
A spokesman for the NSW Coroner's Court announced on Wednesday that the inquest into the deaths of three people in the Lindt cafe in Martin Place will begin on January 29.
Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson, as well as the hostage-taker Man Haron Monis, were killed in the early hours of December 16.
One issue on which the inquest will focus is whether their deaths could have been avoided.
"The aim of the inquest will be to determine how the deaths occurred, the factors that contributed to them and whether they could have been prevented," the spokesman said.
Fairfax Media reported on Sunday that Mrs Dawson died when she was struck by a police bullet that possibly ricocheted and hit her in the heart.
It is believed Monis executed Mr Johnson, the cafe manager, by shooting him in the back at close range.
Monis was killed when police stormed the cafe just after 2am in a hail of gunfire.
The crucial minutes between Monis firing his first shot and police storming the cafe are also expected to come under scrutiny as well as the police's decision to abort a "direct action" plan as the 16-hour siege dragged on.
The Coroner's Court spokesman said no witnesses would be called on the opening day but counsel assisting the State Coroner, Jeremy Gormly, SC, will outline a provisional list of issues the investigation and inquest will look at.
He will also provide some details of the results of the inquiries conducted to date and will outline the way forward for the inquest, including future hearing dates.
The State Coroner will determine applications to participate in the inquest from lawyers representing the families of those who died, the police officers involved in responding to the siege and any other parties who consider they have sufficient interest.
The victims' families have been notified of the inquest opening date.
State Coroner Michael Barnes will preside over the inquest at a venue that has not yet been decided.
