An inquest into the Sydney Lindt Cafe siege enters its
final stage today.

The final segment opening this morning is set to examine
the siege itself and the police response to it.

The process is expected to span at least eight weeks.

Counsel assisting, Jeremy Gormly SC, is expected to
deliver his opening address before the officer in charge of the coronial
investigation is called to give evidence.

Witnesses to events which occurred immediately before the
siege are also due to appear.

So too are police officers who were first to respond to
the siege.

The Sydney siege began when gunman Man Haron Monis
entered the central Sydney Lindt Cafe on the morning of December 15, 2014, and
took 18 people hostage.

Lindt Cafe manager Tori Johnson and lawyer Katrina
Dawson both lost their lives in the 17-hour stand off.

Monis was killed when tactical police stormed the cafe
in the early hours of December 16.

State Coroner Michael Barnes is expected to hand down his
findings later in the year.

– with other agencies