Cop who shot robber 'a dead man walking'

A Sydney coroner has expressed concern for the safety of witnesses at an inquest into the death of an armed robber shot by police.

One of David Taufahema's brothers allegedly told the officer who killed the 18-year-old he was a "dead man walking", outside Glebe Coroners Court on Wednesday, acting state coroner Scott Mitchell was told.

The inquest has heard Senior Constable Simon Ross shot Taufahema in the head in the early hours of September 1, 2009, during a failed hold-up at a Canley Heights hotel in Sydney's southwest.

Stephen Wilkinson, acting for Sen Const Ross, told the inquest his client heard the words "dead man walking" directed to him by one of three young men of Pacific Islander appearance during a break in the inquest on Wednesday morning.

"It was designed to intimidate," Mr Wilkinson said.

The court heard the comment appeared to have come from one of Taufahema's brothers, three of whom were in court for the inquest.

Mr Mitchell described it as "outrageous behaviour".

"I am very concerned about security in this case and about inflaming already bad feeling and intemperance," he said.

Later, while hearing an application by the Nine network to broadcast some of the surveillance footage taken that night, Mr Mitchell expressed his concern for the safety of witnesses.

"What if I'm right and a couple of witnesses are at risk for their lives?" he said.

The inquest heard that Taufahema and a 16-year-old accomplice were armed with a pistol and an air rifle when they held up the hotel with 18 patrons inside.

The accomplice, now aged 19, who can only be identified as M for legal reasons, gave evidence that Taufahema held a gun to the bar manager's head when police were heard outside.

Taufahema told M to "cover him", and M followed him outside holding the air rifle, he said.

M said he then pointed the air rifle at one of the police officers.

"I pointed the gun at him and he pointed the gun at me and I think he tried to shoot back at me," he said.

M said he dived out of the way of the officer's shot.

Asked about other aspects of that night, M told the court he could not remember much because he had been "heavily intoxicated".

The incident came 25 hours after the pair tried to rob a Chinese restaurant, during which Taufahema fired two shots, the court heard.

The inquest is continuing.