Terrorist pulls bid for legal review

The man responsible for killing 51 Muslim worshippers at two Christchurch mosque attacks has withdrawn his legal challenge.

The Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant previously asked the court to review decisions made by the Department of Corrections about his prison conditions, and his designation as a ‘‘terrorist entity’’ under the Terrorism Suppression Act.

However, Justice Geoffrey Venning issued a minute yesterday saying the informal applications for judicial review had been withdrawn.

‘‘Mr Tarrant now advises that he wished to withdraw his two previous applications for judicial review which he referred to in his initial communication to the court,’’ Justice Venning said.

Shadia Amin, whose husband Ahmed Abdel-Ghany died in the shootings, said she believed the terrorist was playing mind-games with the victims and their families, and purposefully trying to cause them anxiety. She believed that was why he chose the start of Ramadan to ask the court to review his prison conditions and terrorist entity designation. ‘‘It is not the first time he did this, and he will try something again later on.’’

Linwood Masjid imam Abdul Lateef said the terrorist was hoping to ‘‘get attention’’ by filing the court application.

Al Noor Mosque imam Gamal Fouda said he was pleased to hear the terrorist had abandoned the legal challenge and that the Muslim community was spared from going through even more trauma, especially during Ramadan.

‘‘The [events of March 15] are still fresh in our minds and left a scar on our hearts that will never disappear. I am sure everyone, not just the

Muslim community, is happy to have the terrorist behind bars forever.’’

Human rights barrister Dr Tony Ellis told Stuff he could not speculate why the terrorist decided to abandon his application, but it was possible that he could again ask for a judicial review at a later stage.

Ellis previously said he was not surprised the gunman was complaining as it was ‘‘inevitable he would be held under harsh conditions’’.

He said it was a dilemma in trying to keep somebody violent like the terrorist safe while restricting his rights in isolation ‘‘so he doesn’t get killed’’.

A preliminary hearing for the gunman’s legal challenge was meant to take place last week at the High Court at Auckland, however Justice Venning said the applicant was not yet ready to proceed.

The gunman was in August jailed for life without parole for the murder of 51 people and attempted murder of 40 at Masjid An-Nur and Linwood mosque on March 15, 2019. He is the only person to be designated the status of terrorist in New Zealand.

In a minute issued after the hearing, Justice Venning said the gunman had penned a letter to the court on February 27 raising two potential issues for judicial review, including his listing as a terrorist entity and decisions by Corrections over his access to news and mail.

The hearing on Thursday was to confirm if the man wished to pursue the proceedings and clarify whether or not he sought legal counsel.

After the teleconference had been arranged, Justice Venning said the court was advised last week that the gunman had complained about a lack of access to documents and wanted the hearing postponed. Despite the court reassuring him he could raise the issues at the hearing, he declined. Justice Venning adjourned the proceedings without a next call date, with leave for the gunman to seek to have them relisted on 14 days’ notice.