Ex-wife of Sydney gunman had sought refuge in U.S.

HAYWARD, Calif. -- The ex-wife of the gunman who held people hostage in a Sydney, Australia chocolate shop for 16 hours sought refuge in the San Francisco Bay Area from her abusive ex-husband before she was killed, her relatives told CBS San Francisco station KPIX-TV.

Man Haron Monis was facing charges of being an accessory to the murder of his ex-wife, Noleen Pal, who had family in Hayward.

Ayyut Khalik, Pal's godfather, told KPIX, "He was a scam artist, oh yeah. A liar, a scam artist."

Khalik said he never trusted Monis, but he was still shocked to learn that he was the gunman behind the siege in Sydney on Monday. Three people were killed, including Monis.

"I never thought he would do something like that, no," he said.

Khalik met Monis in 2003 when Monis married Pal. He said Monis was so abusive to his goddaughter that, just over a year ago, she came to stay at his home in Hayward, seeking refuge.

"He was abusing her, having her wear the hijab, did not want her to talk with anybody," Khalik said.

Pal and Monis had two children together, so after a month, she returned to Australia. About six months later, she was stabbed multiple times and set on fire. Monis was accused of being an accessory to his ex-wife's murder, but spent little time in jail.

"Two weeks later, he was out on bail. And you know, if he would have still been in jail, this would not have happened," Khalik said.

Khalik said he realized Monis was an extremist when he found out Monis had been writing letters to the families of Australian war veterans killed in Iraq, gloating about their deaths. He said his heart is broken for Pal, her children, and for Sydney.

"I mean, those people were innocent. My goddaughter was innocent. Her kids were innocent," he said.