Christchurch mosque accused to undergo mental health tests

A New Zealand judge yesterday ordered that the man accused of killing 50 people at two Christchurch mosques undergo two mental health assessments to determine if he is fit to stand trial.

High Court judge Cameron Mander made the order during a hearing in which Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 28, appeared via video link from a small room at the maximumsecurityparemoremo prison in Auckland.

Judge Mander said nothing should be read into his order for the mental health assessments, as it was normal in such a case. Lawyers said it could take two or three months to complete.

The judge said Tarrant was charged with 50 counts of murder and 39 counts of attempted murder. Police initially filed a single, representative, murder charge before filing the additional charges this week.

Tarrant was wearing handcuffs and a grey-colored sweater when he appeared on a large screen inside the Christchurch courtroom, which was packed with family members and victims of the shooting, some in wheelchairs and hospital gowns and still recovering from gunshot wounds.

Tarrant had stubble and close-cropped hair. He showed no emotion during the hearing. At times he looked around the room or cocked his head, seemingly to better hear what was being said. The judge explained that, from his end, Tarrant could see the judge and lawyers but not those in the public gallery.

Tarrant spoke only once to confirm to the judge he was seated, although his voice didn’t come through because the sound was muted. It wasn’t immediately clear if his link had been deliberately or inadvertently muted.

The courtroom was filled with more than two dozen reporters and about 60 members of the public. A court registrar greeted people in Arabic and English as the hearing got under way. Some of those watching wept.

In the 15 March attacks, 42 people were killed at the Al Noor mosque, seven were killed at the Linwood mosque and one more person died later.

The day after the attacks, Tarrant dismissed an appointed lawyer, saying he wanted to represent himself. But he has now hired two Auckland lawyers, Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson, to represent him. The next court hearing was scheduled for 14 June, and the mental health findings would determine whether he is required to enter a plea then.

Outside the courtroom, Yama Nabi, whose father died in the attacks, said he felt helpless watching.

“We just have to sit in the court and listen,” Mr Nabi said. “What can we do? We can’t do nothing. Just leave it to the justice of New Zealand and the prime minister.”