Sydney siege: Barrister was possibly killed by police officer's bullet

One of the victims of the Sydney siege, Katrina Dawson, was allegedly killed by fragments from a police bullet.

According to a source quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald and Daily Telegraph, close to the investigation, the barrister and mother of three young children died when a police bullet ricocheted, inflicting wounds to her heart and shoulder.

The Sydney Morning Tribute printed a tribute to the two victims of the deadly siege – Dawson and the Lindt Cafe's manager Tori Johnson – with a moving quote from Australia's former Governor-General Quentin Bryce.

Bryce, who had been the principal of the Women's College at Sydney University, said: "I admired her [Dawson's] strength of purpose and character. We knew she had a great future ahead of her, a life of achievement and contribution."

Bryce described the 38-year-old barrister as being a "brilliant mind, joie de vivre spilling over, talented sportswoman, one of those rare natural leaders. Confident, courageous, out-front, articulate, warm and funny, but thoughtful, gentle and understanding too."

The New South Wales Bar Association commented: "Katrina was one of our best and brightest barristers who will be greatly missed by her colleagues and friends."

As well as being well regarded as a top commercial barrister, Dawson was known for her voluntary work as a legal advisor in Redfern, a suburb of Sydney.

Gunman Man Haron Monis was also killed during the seige.

Monis had a history of violence and maintained a campaign of religious activism based on an extreme interpretation of Shariah law. He styled himself as a cleric and had been out on bail following charges of sexual assault, when he entered the Lindt cafe and took 17 hostages.

It is believed that Johnson was killed by Monis while attempting to disarm the gunman.