Mosque video sharers threatened
A judge has warned people about making threats or offering support online to those facing charges over handling of the mosque shooting video.
Death threats have already been made, Crown prosecutor Pip Currie told Christchurch District Court Judge Stephen O’driscoll as the cases were called yesterday.
The threats have led to the Crown taking a neutral stance about continuing name suppression for many of those charged, as their cases progress through the system.
The Crown is also concerned that if names are known through the lifting of the current suppression orders, people might offer support online to those charged.
‘‘It would be wise to let justice take its course without any outside interference, by anyone either supporting those who have come before the court, or anyone wishing to exact some form of justice on them before they come before court,’’ the judge said.
The Crown has also relented about its insistence at first appearances last month that most of those held remain in custody. Several were released on bail yesterday, but interim suppression orders were continued.
One man charged has pleaded guilty to a charge of unlawful possession of the manifesto of the alleged mosque shooter. He was remanded in custody to April 26 to consider his plea to a new charge of distributing the shooting video.
Currie said the manifesto was found on the 22-year-old fisherman’s cellphone.
The man told police he did not agree with government censorship and he had a right to review the manifesto and make his own decision ‘‘under the Bill of Rights’’.
One man, aged 17, charged with distributing the video of the mosque killings, has asked for diversion under the scheme that allows first offenders to avoid convictions if they apologise and make amends.
The diversion has been refused by the Crown but the man’s defence counsel, Anselm Williams, has asked for a review of the decision. The man was further remanded on bail to May 13 for a plea to be entered.
Another man, aged 41, was remanded on bail without plea to May 6 on charges alleging possession of objectionable material, possession of a pipe for smoking methamphetamine, possession of a pistol, and possession of cannabis.
Another man, Philip Neville Arps, facing two charges of distributing the video, was remanded in custody without plea to April 26.
A 21-year-old was granted bail on a charge of distributing the mosque video, because the Crown no longer opposed it. He has entered no plea and was remanded to May 15 with name suppression.
An 18-year-old was remanded in custody to a Crown case review hearing on July 31 on a charge of distributing the shooting video. He has pleaded not guilty.
An 18-year-old facing charges of possessing the objectionable video, and threatening behaviour likely to incite violence, was remanded in custody without plea to April 24 for an electronically monitored bail application to be made. Name suppression was granted and ordinary bail was refused.