23 Dec 2014

Funerals held for Sydney victims

5:40 pm on 23 December 2014

Mourners have farewelled Lindt cafe siege victim Tori Johnson, and a separate service for the second victim, Katrina Dawson, has been held.

Buddhist monks pray as the coffin of Sydney siege victim Tori Johnson is placed in a hearse after his funeral.

Buddhist monks pray as the coffin of Sydney siege victim Tori Johnson is placed in a hearse after his funeral. Photo: AFP

The service for Mr Johnson, the 34-year-old Lindt cafe manager, took place at St Stephen's Uniting Church only a few hundred metres away from where the siege took place.

Mr Johnson and Ms Dawson, 38, were killed after gunman Man Haron Monis took 17 people hostage in the Lindt Cafe in Sydney's Martin Place last week.

At the private funeral service, Mr Johnson's father Ken gave the eulogy and his partner, Thomas Zinn, also spoke.

The funeral booklet described the service as a celebration of Mr Johnson's love, generosity and life, the ABC reports.

Survivors of the siege, along with Mr Johnson's family and friends, laid flowers in his memory at a marquee near the Lindt Cafe this afternoon after the funeral.

A woman adds her tribute to a sea of flowers in Sydney Martin Place.

A woman adds her tribute to a sea of flowers in Sydney Martin Place. Photo: RNZ / Kate Newton

Sydney of City workers and volunteers this morning began removing the floral tributes laid at Martin Place for Mr Johnson and Ms Dawson, due to forecasted wet weather.

Notes, messages and cards attached to the thousands of bouquets are to be given to the victims' families.

New South Wales Premier Mike Baird said people could still pay their respects by leaving flowers at the marquee.

Sources have told the ABC Mr Johnson was trying to wrestle the weapon away from the gunman when he was killed.

Mr Johnson had been employed at the Lindt cafe since October 2012 and had worked at a string of other restaurants and hospitality companies around Sydney.

Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson.

Katrina Dawson and Tori Johnson. Photo: AAP

Sydney lawyer Ms Dawson was having coffee with a pregnant friend in the cafe when they were taken hostage.

Ms Dawson was fatally shot during the siege, which ended when police stormed the building 16 hours into the incident after hearing shots from inside.

She was farewelled at a memorial at the Sydney University Great Hall, following a private funeral on Monday.

Ms Dawson worked as a barrister at Selbourne Chambers in the CBD and had three young children.

She was married to Paul Smith, a partner at Mallesons, whom she met while completing her clerkship at the firm.

The media was asked not to attend the services.

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