Friday, December 19, 2014

Australia gunman lawyers receive death threats

Australia gunman lawyers receive death threats
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2014/12/19/390930/sydney-gunman-lawyers-get-death-threats/
Fri Dec 19, 2014 11:13AM GMT

Man Haron Monis

Magistrates and lawyers of the slain hostage-taker at a café in the Australian city of Sydney have received death threats, officials say.

On Friday, the president of the New South Wales Bar Association, Jane Needham SC, voiced concern over threats against a number of members of the judiciary involved in proceedings related to Man Haron Monis, who had been on bail at the time of the deadly incident.

“It has been regrettable that members of the judiciary have been targeted in a personal manner as if they were somehow to blame for the terrible events in Martin Place,” Needham said.

Criticism has mounted on Australian authorities for granting Monis bail despite various charges against him, including sexual offences and abetting the murder of his ex-wife.

On December 16, an armed Monis took 17 people hostage at the Lindt Café in Sydney’s central Martin Place business district.

The 16-hour siege ended after the hostage-taker was shot and killed. Two of the hostages were also killed.

Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott has ordered an investigation into the incident.

Authorities say Monis, also known as Hassan Manteqi, was an Iranian who had escaped to Australia 18 years ago.

Iran’s police chief says Tehran had in 2000 asked Australia to extradite Monis on fraud charges, but Canberra failed to do so as there was no extradition treaty between the two countries.

SZH/MKA/KA

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