Brenton Tarrant appears in court, faces 50 murder counts in New Zealand shooting
CNNCNN — The Australian man accused of carrying out the worst mass shooting in modern New Zealand history has appeared in court, where he was formally charged with 50 counts of murder and 39 attempted murder counts. On Friday morning local time, Brenton Tarrant, 28, appeared via video link in Christchurch High Court in front of Justice Cameron Mander. Video Ad Feedback New Zealand PM bans assault rifles 01:29 - Source: CNN Tarrant’s court appearance comes as the New Zealand government moves to rapidly approve legislation banning semi-automatic weapons and assault rifles, in an effort to ensure similar attacks can never happen again. Ardern described the massacre as one of the country’s “darkest days.” Following the attack, New Zealanders came together to offer support and solidarity to the victims and the wider Muslim community. Video Ad Feedback New Zealanders form human chain to back Muslim community 02:43 - Source: CNN From a wheelchair onstage at the memorial, survivor Farid Ahmed, whose wife died in the attack, spoke of forgiveness.