NZ gunman ‘smiles’

Court appearance sparks anger as accused pleads not guilty

THE man accused of shooting dead 51 Muslim worshippers in the Christchurch mosque attacks in March smiled yesterday as his lawyers entered not guilty pleas to multiple murder and terrorism charges.

Brenton Tarrant’s barrister told Christchurch High Court his client was pleading not guilty to all charges, prompting anger from survivors and relatives of those killed in the March 15 attacks.

The self-proclaimed white supremacist appeared in court via audiovisual link from a maximum-security prison in Auckland for the brief hearing.

Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian national, was committed to stand trial next year on 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and engaging in a terrorist act.

His smiling demeanour enraged survivors still reeling from the worst massacre in modern New Zealand history, who had packed the courthouse’s public gallery for a glimpse of the accused.

“It just shows he’s an animal,” Mustafa Boztas, who was wounded in the thigh, said outside the court.

“I feel sad that someone can be so unhuman and take the lives of innocent people.”

Abdul Aziz, who confronted the gunman at the Linwood mosque and chased him off the premises, said he wanted to see Tarrant’s face.

“He was laughing there (in court) and he thinks he was so tough, but he was a coward when he faced me and he ran,” he said.

“He was not man enough to stand up that time and (now) he’s standing there and laughing.

“Put me for 15 minutes in one cell and then we will see if he can laugh any more.”

Tarrant allegedly opened fire in the packed Al Noor mosque during Friday prayers, then travelled across town to continue the carnage in the suburban Linwood mosque, while live-streaming his actions on social media.

The judge set a trial date of May 4, 2020, with proceedings expected to last at least six weeks, although some lawyers warned the case could last twice as long.