Mosque shooter drops legal representatives

CHRISTCHURCH: The Australian man who pleaded guilty to killing 51 Muslim worshippers in Christchurch last year has decided to represent himself a month ahead of the sentencing hearing, the High Court at Christchurch said yesterday.

Brenton Tarrant pleaded guilty earlier this year to 51 charges of murder, 40 charges of attempted murder and one charge of committing a terrorist act.

His guilty plea made a sixweek trial that had been due to begin in June redundant.

Tarrant’s decision to represent himself would not affect the sentencing hearing set to begin on August 24, Justice Cameron Mander said in minutes of a hearing released by the court.

The judge approved Tarrant’s request in a pretrial video call after he was satisfied that Tarrant understood his rights to have legal representation and that he wished to waive those rights.

Tarrant’s lawyers said there was no ‘‘conflict or relationship breakdown’’ between them and Tarrant, and that the request was consistent with his rights.

‘‘Tarrant has instructed counsel that he wishes to act for himself at sentence,’’ the lawyers, who have appeared for Tarrant since his second court appearance on April 5 last year, said in an emailed statement.

‘‘We are not disappointed by Mr Tarrant’s decision.’’

The sentencing date was formally confirmed yesterday in the High Court at Christchurch in the presence of shooting survivors and family liaison representatives.

Justice Mander appointed a lawyer for standby counsel, should Tarrant decide to be legally represented on the day.