He is Sheik Man Haron Monis, who is a self-styled preacher of Islamic State on bail for accessory to murder.
Monis, 50, died at the end of a 16-hour siege at the cafe early this morning, but was no stranger to Australian authorities.
He first came to public notice in 2010 when he faced charges for sending offensive letters to the families of two Australian soldiers who died in Afghanistan – and the family of a trade official, Craig Senger, who died in the 2009 Jakarta bombing.
As a result, he was convicted of 12 counts of using a postal service to cause offence, ordered to perform 300 hours of community service and placed on a two-year good behaviour bond.
Monis was banned from sending similar letters to the relatives of British soldiers, but claimed in court at the time the condition was a breach of his freedom of speech.
Monis’ former lawyer Manny Conditsis describes him as a “damaged goods individual” with an ideology that clouds his common sense.
Monis was also accused of being an accessory to his ex-wife’s murder and faced charges on 40 offences relating to the indecent and sexual assault of several women in 2002.
He was granted bail and was set to reappear in court in February 2015.
Source: www.sbs.com.au
