New Zealand, June 14: The suspect in New Zealand’s two Christchurch attacks occurred in March, has on Thursday pleaded not guilty against all charges levelled on him.
According to BBC news reports, the main suspect Brenton Tarrant was charged with 49 counts of attempted murder, the murder charges on 52 people, and one of the deadliest terrorist act in the nation’s peacetime mass shooting.
The 15 March terror attack saw a gunman open firing on Muslims during their prayers on Friday. This was the first time when a terrorism charge has been brought to the nation.
According to BBC’s Sydney correspondent Hywel Griffith’s reports, numerous survivors of the deadliest attack and victims’ relatives were present in the court for the suspect’s hearing.
High Court Justice Cameron Mander stated the court trial had been postponed to next year on May 4, and Tarrant would be in custody until the case reviews his hearing on August 16.
In an official statement, Judge Mander on Friday said: “No issue arises regarding the defendant’s fitness to plead, to instruct counsel, and to stand his trial. A fitness hearing is not required.”
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has said the country’s royal commission inquiry into the two Christchurch mosques terror attacks would be reporting the government by December 10.
The body would have a look into the suspected gunman’s activities with the help of international connections and social media, as well as whether the state counter-terrorism resources had any “inappropriate” priority setting in it.