Hostage tells inquest cops saved his life

A hostage believed he was going to die before police shot dead the robber who was holding a pistol to his head, an inquest has been told.

After the shooting, bar manager Ninos Shlaimon told police: "Man, those cops saved my life."

Mr Shlaimon gave evidence on Tuesday at the inquest into the death of David Taufahema, 18, in the early hours of September 1, 2009, at a Canley Vale hotel in Sydney's west.

Glebe Coroners Court has heard Taufahema and a juvenile had their faces disguised and were armed with a pistol and a rifle when they held up the hotel.

Mr Shlaimon said the man with the pistol - Taufahema - made him open the safe, tills and poker machines, while the other robber made patrons lie down and demanded their valuables.

Taufahema made various threats including: "Shut up or I will put a bullet in you", while the other robber was screaming at patrons saying he was going to blow their heads off.

"It did not seem they were professional - they were just really loud and aggressive," he said.

"I had been in a robbery before when it was very calm and this was something else."

He said Taufahema asked him if he had a car and the manager assumed this was for a getaway.

"I was just baffled because there was no exit strategy," Mr Shlaimon said.

When police could be heard outside, the robbers "panicked" and Taufahema put his arm around him, pointed the pistol at his neck and marched him towards the door.

The manager saw two officers, with their guns drawn, and yelled out "Don't shoot, don't shoot", waving his arms in front of his face.

Police yelled at the robber to put the weapon down, while Taufahema also was shouting.

"Everyone was screaming at each other and it just happened," he said.

He heard two gunshots simultaneously then felt the robber's weight coming off his shoulders before they both dropped to the ground.

"I didn't look back. I just ran," he said.

Asked what he had thought was going to happen to him, Mr Shlaimon told the inquest: "You are going to die right. What else are you going to think, right?"

Referring to the police being outside, he said usually robbers put their weapons down.

"It's not a movie," he added.

Mr Shlaimon said when he yelled "don't shoot" he was addressing the robber and police.

"For all I know, there could have been an officer on the first day (of work)," he said.

Members of Taufahema's family stayed in the court when CCTV footage from the pub was shown.

The inquest is continuing.