CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, April 12, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – A 33-year-old New
Zealand man pleaded guilty Friday to harassing Muslims outside one of the
Christchurch mosques where dozens were gunned down in a massacre last month,
but said he can’t remember anything about it.
Daniel Nicholas Tuapawa was said to have been shocked and did not realise
what he had done until police showed him a video in which he was yelling
abusive comments including “all Muslims are terrorists”.
When Tuapawa appeared in court charged with disorderly behaviour that was
“likely to cause violence,” his lawyer said his client was ashamed of his
actions and could not explain how or why it happened, local media reported.
Tuapawa was wearing a shirt emblazoned with the name of US President Donald
Trump when he shouted abuse at Muslims outside the Al Noor mosque on
Wednesday. He was arrested on Thursday.
Tuapawa was remanded on bail to be sentenced on July 31.
Australian Brenton Tarrant, 28, a self-avowed white supremacist, has been
charged with 50 counts of murder and 39 of attempted murder after opening
fire at Al Noor and a second Christchurch mosque on March 15.