When Katrina Dawson died on December 14, 2014, she was in the prime of her life.
The Sydney barrister was just 38 when she was killed in the crossfire as NSW Police tried to diffuse the hostage situation in the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place which had already lasted nearly 18 hours.
An inquest into the tragedy revealed that unlike the first victim of the siege, Tori Johnson, who was shot point blank by lone gunman Man Haron Monis, the mother-of-three was fatally hit by several fragments from police bullets.
Since the State Coroner handed down his findings six days ago, both victims’ families have accused authorities of “mismanaging” the situation.
Both spoke candidly with ABC’s Four Corners about their frustration, and in Part Two the program’s special investigation into the siege, which aired on Monday night, Dawson’s mother Jane lamented that her daughter would be would be remembered for her death rather than her rich, full life.
“[One] of the saddest things about this is Katrina’s face is such an image in the paper,” she told Sarah Ferguson.
“Her name will be forever associated with such a terrible, terrible tragedy and that’s really sad because she was such a fabulous person.
“[We] have to somehow accept that she is always going to be associated with the siege and that’s a shame.”