Linwood mosque hero denies assault

A hero of the Christchurch terror attacks, who at times has been mired in controversy, has pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault with intent to injure.

Abdul Aziz Wahabzadah, whom Justice Cameron Mander praised at the sentencing of the March 15, 2019, terrorist for bravely chasing him away on the day of the attack, has waived his right to a lawyer and intends to defend the charge himself.

He is charged that on March 8, he assaulted a man with intent

Abdul Aziz to injure him, court documents said. The charge carries a maximum period of three years imprisonment.

The 50-year-old was removed from the Linwood Islamic Charitable Trust in 2021 over concerns about his behaviour amid a Department of Internal Affairs investigation of accusations of financial mishandling.

At the Christchurch District Court on Tuesday, Aziz pleaded not guilty to the single charge and elected a judge-alone trial, signalling his intention to defend himself.

Aziz had been at the Linwood Islamic Centre with his four sons on March 15, 2019. He confronted and distracted the terrorist from harming others, throwing a credit card machine at him which narrowly missed.

He ducked between parked cars to avoid gunshots, but continued to run after the terrorist, even as he drove off.

He was awarded New Zealand’s highest award, the New Zealand Cross, the same year for his bravery during the attack and was invited to attend King Charles III’s coronation last year.

Aziz was remanded on bail by Judge Murray Hunt to appear for a case review on July 16, when a trial date will likely be set.