An inquest will begin on Thursday to determine whether the deaths of Lindt cafe gunman Man Haron Monis and two hostages could have been prevented.

Barrister Katrina Dawson and cafe manager Tori Johnson died along with Monis in the 16-hour siege as police stormed Sydney’s Martin Place cafe in December.

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The coronial inquest, beginning in Sydney on Thursday, will seek to determine how the deaths happened.

No witnesses will be called on the opening day, but counsel assisting will outline the scope of the inquest and the results of inquiries made to date.

Lawyers representing police officers, the victims’ families, and other interested parties have been invited to apply to take part.

When the siege started on December 15 the nation stopped, while the rest of the world watched on in horror.

The hostage situation in Sydney’s Martin Place ended in the tragic deaths of mother-of-three Ms Dawson, and Lindt store manager Mr Johnson, who died while wrestling a gun from Monis, which killed him.

Four people – three hostages and one police officer – were also wounded in the violent climax to the siege.

– with AAP