Judge Orders Mental Health Tests for Accused Mosque Shooter

Judge Orders Mental Health Tests for Accused Mosque Shooter
Brenton Tarrant, charged for murder in relation to the mosque attacks, is led into the dock for his appearance in the Christchurch District Court, New Zealand, on March 16, 2019. (Mark Mitchell/New Zealand Herald/Pool via Reuters)
The Associated Press
4/4/2019
Updated:
4/4/2019

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand—A New Zealand judge on Friday, April 5, ordered that the man accused of killing 50 people at two Christchurch mosques undergo two mental health assessments to determine if he’s fit to stand trial.

High Court judge Cameron Mander made the order during a hearing in which 28-year-old Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant appeared via video link from a small room at the maximum security Paremoremo prison in Auckland.

Tarrant was wearing handcuffs and a gray-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.

A man in a wheelchair is escorted from outside the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 5, 2019. (Mark Baker/AP Photo)
A man in a wheelchair is escorted from outside the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 5, 2019. (Mark Baker/AP Photo)

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.

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

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 underway. Some of those watching got emotional and wept.

People leave the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 5, 2019. (Mark Baker/AP Photo)
People leave the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 5, 2019. (Mark Baker/AP Photo)

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.

In the March 15 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 to represent him, Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson. The next court hearing was scheduled for June 14, and the mental health findings would determine whether he is required to enter a plea then.

Shane Tait, left, a lawyer acting for Brenton Harrison Tarrant, talks with media outside the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 5, 2019. (Mark Baker/AP Photo)
Shane Tait, left, a lawyer acting for Brenton Harrison Tarrant, talks with media outside the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 5, 2019. (Mark Baker/AP Photo)

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,” Nabi said. “What can we do? We can’t do nothing. Just leave it to the justice of New Zealand and the prime minister.”

Yama Nabi, whose father Haji Daoud Nabi was killed in a shooting at Al Noor Mosque, speaks to the media outside the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 5, 2019.(Mark Baker/AP Photo)
Yama Nabi, whose father Haji Daoud Nabi was killed in a shooting at Al Noor Mosque, speaks to the media outside the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 5, 2019.(Mark Baker/AP Photo)

Tofazzal Alam, 25, said he was at the Linwood mosque when the gunman attacked. He felt it was important to attend the hearing because so many of his friends were killed.

Alam said he felt upset seeing Tarrant.

“It seems he don’t care what has been done. He has no emotion. He looks all right,” Alam said. “I feel sorry. Sorry for myself. Sorry for my friends who have been killed. And for him.”

Tofazzal Alam, a survivor of the Linwood Mosque shootings, speaks to the media outside the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 5, 2019. (Mark Baker/AP Photo)
Tofazzal Alam, a survivor of the Linwood Mosque shootings, speaks to the media outside the High Court in Christchurch, New Zealand, on April 5, 2019. (Mark Baker/AP Photo)
By Nick Perry