Police admit gunman charge mistake

The person recorded as being allegedly murdered by the Christchurch mosque shooter turns out to be alive and well.

When the shooter appeared in the Christchurch District Court on Saturday he faced one charge of murdering a woman whose name was then suppressed by Judge Paul Kellar.

The name has caused much confusion with media trying to compose a list of the fatalities. Because the woman’s name was included in the list, the number of fatalities came to 51. However, police were adamant their number of 50 fatalities was correct.

Detective Superintendent Chris Page yesterday said police had made a mistake in charging the shooter with killing a person who was connected to the shootings but still alive.

‘‘We have been to see her today [yesterday] and apologised. The name was supposed to represent many victims and someone was just trying to do the right thing. We made a mistake and we will own it,’’ he said.

The woman’s name remains suppressed.

Page said the charge sheet would be amended on the shooter’s next appearance on April 5 when he would face ‘‘a bundle’’ of new charges.

The mistake did not affect the validity nor legality of the prosecution, he said.

Police yesterday confirmed they had identified all 50 people killed in the mosque shootings.

As funerals continued yesterday, the identity of the 50th victim was released by police.

He was Mohamad Moosid Mohamedhosen, 54, who was born in Mauritius and came from the town of Vacoas.

A minority of the country’s population are Muslim. Mohamedhosen had lived in Britain, where he started a graphic design company, according to company records.

He lived in Linwood, and was killed at the Linwood Islamic Centre.

His family has flown to New Zealand, and declined to comment. His funeral was held yesterday morning.

Police yesterday also confirmed Burnside High School student Muhammed Haziq Tarmizi, 17, was among the victims shot at Masjid Al Noor on Deans Ave.

Tarmizi was at the mosque with his parents and younger brother. His father, Mohammed Tarmizi Shuib, was shot twice and is in hospital in a stable condition.

The coroner’s office began releasing bodies on Tuesday after an extensive identification process.