INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Image copyrightReutersImage caption
The suspect made an earlier court appearance in March (file photo)
The man accused of killing 50 people in last month's attacks on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, has been ordered to undergo mental
He would be seen by experts to decide if he was fit to stand trial or insane, said high court judge Cameron Mander.The suspect faces 50
murder charges and 39 attempted murder charges.Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, appeared in the courtroom - packed with relatives of some of
the victims - via video link from prison.He was not required to enter a plea.It is the deadliest mass shooting attack New Zealand has ever
seen.Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage caption
Members of Christchurch's Muslim community attended the court hearing
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern called it one of New Zealand's "darkest days".She has vowed to ban all types of
semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles.What happened in the courtOn Friday morning, Judge Mander ordered that two assessments would be
carried out to determine the state of the suspect's mental health.The suspect listened intently during the short court hearing
He made no comments.The suspect was able to see the judge and lawyers and hear the proceedings - but the camera was turned away from the
public gallery.The judge remanded him in custody, and his next court appearance is now due on 14 June.Image copyrightGetty ImagesImage
caption
Omar Nabi who lost a relative in the attack was at the court
Omar Nabi lost his father in the
attack on the Al Noor mosque
Speaking to reporters outside the court he said "we don't want to kill him
We want him to suffer here"
"We want him to be punished, you know, a punishment for a crime of killing 50 people and injuring how many."Tofazzal Alam who survived the
attack on the Linwood mosque also spoke to reporters outside the court."I lost 50 friends whom I use to see in the mosque every Friday
And during the shooting, I couldn't see him
I want to see how he feels after killing 50 people, so that's why I'm here today."Victims of the Christchurch shootingsFifty people lost
their lives in the shootings at two mosques in the city
How did the attacks unfoldThe suspect was arrested on 15 March for his involvement in the shootings at the Al Noor mosque and the Linwood
Islamic Centre, both located in Christchurch.He had allegedly first driven to the Al Noor mosque, parked nearby and began firing into the
mosque as he walked in through the front entrance
He allegedly fired on men, women and children inside for about five minutes
He live-streamed the attack from a head-mounted camera and identified himself in the footage.Image copyrightReutersImage caption
Smashed windows at Linwood Mosque
The suspect is then said to have driven about 5km (three miles) to the Linwood
mosque where the second shooting occurred.The gunman, armed with semi-automatic rifles including an AR-15, is believed to have modified his
weapons with high-capacity magazines - the part of the gun which stores ammunition - so they could hold more bullets.He is currently being
kept in isolation at the Auckland Prison in Paremoremo, considered New Zealand's toughest
How has New Zealand respondedLess than a week after the attacks, Ms Ardern announced that New Zealand would ban all types of semi-automatic
weapons and assault rifles.She said she expected new legislation to be in place by 11 April
An amnesty has been imposed so the owners of affected weapons can hand them in, and a buy-back scheme will follow.Many in the country are
still coming to terms with the mass killings
More than 20,000 people had earlier last month attended a memorial service honouring the 50 victims of the shootings.Image copyrightGetty
ImagesImage caption
Thousands turned up to a vigil in remembrance of the victims
All 50 names of the
victims who died in the attacks were read out at the event by members of the city's Muslim community
The victims included men, women and children from across the world
The youngest victim was just three years old.
