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Sydney siege gunman may have been suffering psychosis, inquest told Sydney siege gunman may have been suffering psychosis, inquest told
(35 minutes later)
A psychiatrist who assessed Man Haron Monis as suffering from chronic schizophrenia has told a coronial inquest “he might still have been suffering from some kind of psychotic illness” when he took hostages in the Lindt cafe in December.A psychiatrist who assessed Man Haron Monis as suffering from chronic schizophrenia has told a coronial inquest “he might still have been suffering from some kind of psychotic illness” when he took hostages in the Lindt cafe in December.
However her assessment clashed with the diagnosis of a second mental health specialist, who had diagnosed the Sydney siege gunman with depression and anxiety, but saw no trace of psychosis, which he said would have been “unmissable”.
Monis collapsed twice in the street in 2010 and was referred to doctor Kristen Barrett, who started treating the gunman in April that year. By September 2011 he had stopped taking anti-psychotic medication and cut off contact with her.Monis collapsed twice in the street in 2010 and was referred to doctor Kristen Barrett, who started treating the gunman in April that year. By September 2011 he had stopped taking anti-psychotic medication and cut off contact with her.
She told the inquest on Tuesday his behaviour during the siege “indicated to me some possible psychotic delusions”.She told the inquest on Tuesday his behaviour during the siege “indicated to me some possible psychotic delusions”.
“When I read in the newspapers that he’d been complaining to [the Channel Seven program] Sunrise that they had hidden messages about things, that sounds to be like quite a psychotic phenomenon,” Barrett said.“When I read in the newspapers that he’d been complaining to [the Channel Seven program] Sunrise that they had hidden messages about things, that sounds to be like quite a psychotic phenomenon,” Barrett said.
She said Monis had arrived for their first session wearing a cap and sunglasses indoors, suggesting it “may have been that he was paranoid”.She said Monis had arrived for their first session wearing a cap and sunglasses indoors, suggesting it “may have been that he was paranoid”.
“[He was] very evasive in his answers,” Barrett told the inquest in Sydney. “He felt that he was being watched by various groups in Iran and in Australia, and that had been ongoing for 14 years. He felt he was being watched all the time, even in the bathroom.”“[He was] very evasive in his answers,” Barrett told the inquest in Sydney. “He felt that he was being watched by various groups in Iran and in Australia, and that had been ongoing for 14 years. He felt he was being watched all the time, even in the bathroom.”
Monis had been placed on an Asio watch list in 2008 after sending offensive letters to the families of slain soldiers, but had dropped off the agency’s radar by 2009.Monis had been placed on an Asio watch list in 2008 after sending offensive letters to the families of slain soldiers, but had dropped off the agency’s radar by 2009.
Barrett gave him a working diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia and prescribed a low dose of anti-psychotic medication, which she said by September 2010 had gradually improved his condition.Barrett gave him a working diagnosis of chronic schizophrenia and prescribed a low dose of anti-psychotic medication, which she said by September 2010 had gradually improved his condition.
“[He was] less worried about being followed,” she said. “Sometimes he didn’t worry about it at all.”“[He was] less worried about being followed,” she said. “Sometimes he didn’t worry about it at all.”
Monis, who had been ordered by a court to cease his letter-writing, also began to express concern “his communication style might offend people”.Monis, who had been ordered by a court to cease his letter-writing, also began to express concern “his communication style might offend people”.
“[He was] concerned that he chose the wrong words,” she said. “He found this disabling, that it limited his abilities. [He] also found it happened when he was speaking Arabic.”“[He was] concerned that he chose the wrong words,” she said. “He found this disabling, that it limited his abilities. [He] also found it happened when he was speaking Arabic.”
She said Monis remained “extremely guarded” during their sessions together and the diagnosis of low-range schizophrenia was only a provisional one, despite the apparent success of the treatment.She said Monis remained “extremely guarded” during their sessions together and the diagnosis of low-range schizophrenia was only a provisional one, despite the apparent success of the treatment.
“It’s very difficult to say over the period of time that I saw him,” she said. “To make a very clear assessment I would have to see him probably for a few years. It seemed to me when his illness was treated, he did well.”“It’s very difficult to say over the period of time that I saw him,” she said. “To make a very clear assessment I would have to see him probably for a few years. It seemed to me when his illness was treated, he did well.”
Monis never showed any “suicidal or homicidal ideations” while in her care, she said.Monis never showed any “suicidal or homicidal ideations” while in her care, she said.
In 2011 he began to wean himself off the medication, telling Barrett “he was feeling well and he felt he didn’t need it”. He cut off contact in September 2011, just over three years before holding up the Lindt cafe.In 2011 he began to wean himself off the medication, telling Barrett “he was feeling well and he felt he didn’t need it”. He cut off contact in September 2011, just over three years before holding up the Lindt cafe.
Unbeknownst to Barrett, Monis had seen another psychiatrist, doctor Daniel Murray, in 2005 and again in 2010.
The inquest heard that over three sessions in 2005 Murray had diagnosed him with a “major depressive disorder and panic disorder”.
However, though Monis “was concerned enough in a somewhat vague manner of the state being somewhat set against him”, Murray said he saw “no indication in terms of his dress, appearance, or behaviour ... that he had a concerning psychotic illness”.
Nor did signs of psychosis - which would have been “unmissable” - present themselves in 2010, he said.
Counsel assisting the inquest, Jeremy Gormly SC, asked Murray “whether you consider having heard that one story is going to one psychiatrist, another is going to another psychiatrist, that there is some manipulation going on there?”
Murray replied: “Certainly that would be a reasonable inference to make.”
A community corrections officer, Margaret Kedzierska, dealt with Monis after he was sentenced to 300 hours community service in 2013.A community corrections officer, Margaret Kedzierska, dealt with Monis after he was sentenced to 300 hours community service in 2013.
She told the inquest that Monis referred to himself as a misunderstood “peace activist”, and claimed not to understand why his letters had caused trouble. Earlier on Wednesday, she told the inquest that Monis referred to himself as a misunderstood “peace activist”, and claimed not to understand why his letters had caused trouble.
“He appeared not to have insight into his actions and no empathy for the family of the soldiers and he could not understand why this was an offence,” she said.“He appeared not to have insight into his actions and no empathy for the family of the soldiers and he could not understand why this was an offence,” she said.
Monis had to keep shifting the location of his community service after his arrests for sexual assault and for being an accessory to murder. He ceased volunteering at the Bankstown Police Citizens Youth Club in July 2014 after complaining of “discriminative behaviour” by staff.Monis had to keep shifting the location of his community service after his arrests for sexual assault and for being an accessory to murder. He ceased volunteering at the Bankstown Police Citizens Youth Club in July 2014 after complaining of “discriminative behaviour” by staff.
One female staff member had “made negative comments about my praying, saying ‘when you pray you go on and on and on’,” he said in one complaint.One female staff member had “made negative comments about my praying, saying ‘when you pray you go on and on and on’,” he said in one complaint.
Whether the coroner will be permitted to examine why the Sydney siege gunman was granted bail in 2014 after being charged with 43 counts of sexual assault was also discussed on Wednesday.Whether the coroner will be permitted to examine why the Sydney siege gunman was granted bail in 2014 after being charged with 43 counts of sexual assault was also discussed on Wednesday.
The New South Wales director of public prosecutions is arguing the bail questions fall outside the inquest’s terms of reference. The coroner, Michael Barnes, will make a ruling on the matter next Friday, when the first phase of the inquest concludes.The New South Wales director of public prosecutions is arguing the bail questions fall outside the inquest’s terms of reference. The coroner, Michael Barnes, will make a ruling on the matter next Friday, when the first phase of the inquest concludes.