BOLD

Alleged Christchurch Shooter Brenton Tarrant Will Represent Himself in Court

The move raises concerns that he’ll try and use the trial to proclaim his beliefs.

Alleged Christchurch shooter Brenton Tarrant has disposed of his counsel and will represent himself in court, The New Zealand Herald reports. “What did seem apparent to me is he seemed quite clear and lucid, whereas this may seem like very irrational behavior,” his former lawyer, Richard Peters, told the Herald. “He didn’t appear to me to be facing any challenges or mental impairment, other than holding fairly extreme views.” Peters said that Tarrant might have decided to represent himself so that he can use the trial to proclaim those extreme views and that it would be up to the judge to prevent that from happening. Tarrant is currently being held on just one charge of murder, but he is expected to face more, in connection with the Friday morning shooting at two New Zealand mosques that left at least 50 people dead. He will appear in court on April 5.

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