The defendant surprisingly admitted to the court the 51 murders and 40 attempted murders.
Christchurch (dpa) - A good year after the devastating terrorist attack on two mosques in Christchurch in New Zealand, the alleged assassin surprisingly declared himself guilty.
The 29-year-old accused admitted the 51 murders and 40 attempted murders to the Christchurch court, the New Zealand police said. In June the Australian racist declared that he was innocent on all charges.
On March 15, 2019, the perpetrator killed 51 people in two mosques and injured dozens more. He broadcast the attack live on the Internet using a helmet camera. Before the bloodbath, he posted a pamphlet with racist slogans. He is also accused of terrorism. The man is currently in a prison in Auckland, more than 1,000 kilometers north of Christchurch.
The appointment in front of the court on Thursday had been spontaneously scheduled. The defendant was switched on by video. According to media reports, the names of all 51 killed were read to him before being asked about his guilt. "Oh, ok, yes, guilty," he said, according to local media reports.
The man is scheduled to be remanded until May 1, 2020. According to the police, no verdict should be pronounced unless all the survivors of the tragedy who wanted to attend the trial. This would not be possible for a long time because of the coronavirus pandemic.