The Australian man accused of killing 51 people and wounding dozens more as they worshiped at two mosques in New Zealand in March pleaded not guilty to all the charges filed against him — including murder and a terrorism charge — in a brief court hearing on Friday.
Tarrant faces a total of 92 charges after New Zealand filed two additional attempted murder charges, one murder charge and one terrorism charge. This is the first time a terrorism charge has been brought in New Zealand.
The 28-year-old man, who appeared by video link from a small room at the maximum security prison in Auckland where he is being held, smirked as his lawyers entered his plea but otherwise showed little emotion.
The courtroom was filled with 80 survivors and family members, while about another 60 watched the proceedings on video in an overflow room.
After the hearing, some survivors and members of the victims’ families expressed their dismay at watching Mr. Tarrant smile in court.
4 cultural advisers and other staff were assigned to help the victims and family members understand what was going on in court and the next steps in the case.
At the last hearing on 5 April the court had ordered Mr Tarrant to undergo mental assessment first to determine whether he was fit to stand trial. The judge said on Friday that two mental-health assessments of Tarrant had been completed, and there were no issues in relation to the accused’s ability to enter pleas and stand trial. Such mental-health assessments are standard procedure in murder cases
Despite the defendant’s earlier claims that he would represent himself, two lawyers, Mr. Tait and Jonathan Hudson, appeared in court on his behalf on Friday for the second time. They have not explained the circumstances by which they came to represent the accused.
The High Court Justice Cameron Mander said the trial will start on 4 May next year. Brenton Tarrant has been remanded in custody until 16 August when a case review hearing is scheduled.
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In the March 15 attacks, 42 worshipers were killed at the Al Noor mosque and seven were killed at the Linwood mosque during Friday prayers. Two more people died later at the Christchurch Hospital.
New Zealand’s Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has vowed never to say the accused man’s name. Last month she helped lead a global pledge named the “Christchurch Call,” aimed at boosting efforts to keep internet platforms from being used to spread hate, organize extremist groups and broadcast attacks.
Last month she helped lead a global pledge named the “Christchurch Call”, aimed at boosting efforts to keep internet platforms from being used to spread hate, organise extremist groups and broadcast attacks.
