Christchurch attack: Man accused of New Zealand mosque killings pleads not guilty

Brenton Tarrant, the 28-year-old Australian accused of the attacks, appeared at yesterday’ Christchurch High Court hearing via video link from a small room at the maximum security prison in Auckland where he is being held.

The link was muted and he did not attempt to speak.

The courtroom itself was filled with 80 survivors and family members of the 51 who were slain. About another 60 people watched the hearing on video in an overflow room.

Four cultural advisers and other staff were assigned to help the victims and family members understand the proceedings and the next steps in the case.

A man who addressed the survivors said they had been praying during the holy month of Ramadan and that the Muslim community would help and support each other during the coming weeks and months.

Other than smirking a couple of times, Tarrant showed little emotion during the hearing. When Judge Cameron Mander asked if he could hear and see what was going on in the courtroom, Tarrant nodded. At times he looked around the room and stretched his neck.

The judge did not allow cameras or video in the courtroom, although did approve a sketch artist. Tarrant has been charged with 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one terrorism charge in relation to the 15 March shootings.

Judge Mander said the findings of two mental-health assessments showed Tarrant had no issues related to his ability to enter pleas and stand trial. The assessments are standard in murder cases.

The judge scheduled a six-week trial to start on 4 May. Tarrant will remain in custody ahead of his next hearing in mid-August.

Outside the court, police and court security staff escorted a man away after he got into an argument with survivors and family members, who later said the man was saying things supportive of white supremacist ideology.

Police said they arrested a 33-year-old man and charged him with disorderly behaviour.

Janna Ezat wore a shirt that she had designed that featured an image of her son Hussein Al-Umari, who was killed in the attacks. She said the court hearing had made her angry.

“Before I was OK and calm and believe in this life my son died and he is in a good place,” she said. “But when I saw the terrorist, he was just, he’s nothing. Just sitting like that. Pretending that he’s innocent and nothing is wrong.”

She said she thought the shooter deserved to be given the death penalty, even though New Zealand no longer institutes the punishment. “It’s not easy to lose your child,” she said. “Not only my child, but 50 people. It’s unfair – and he was laughing.”

Abdul Aziz, who is considered a hero for confronting the gunman at the Linwood mosque, said he wouldn’t say the suspect’s name.

“He’s a coward and behind the cell he’s laughing,” Mr Aziz said. “He should have laughed when I faced him. Then I would see how he laugh. He run like a dog. He run like a chicken.”

In the 15 March attacks during Friday prayers, 42 worshippers were killed at the Al Noor mosque and seven were killed at the Linwood mosque. Two more people died later at the Christchurch Hospital.

The shooter livestreamed much of the attack on Facebook.

Tarrant had earlier published a 74-page manifesto espousing a white supremacist philosophy and detailing his plans to attack the mosques. New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has vowed never to say the accused man’s name.