Two survivors from the March 15, 2019 terror attack in Christchurch have their say on the terrorist's appeal and how it felt to see and hear him.
Victims of the terror attack that left 51 people dead across two Christchurch mosques on March 15, 2019 have spoken about the killer’s attempted appeal of his convictions.
Temel Atacocugu was shot nine times by convicted terrorist Brenton Tarrant at Al Noor Mosque, surviving the attack after undergoing multiple surgeries.
Today, after listening to more testimony at a Court of Appeal hearing in Wellington via an audio visual link at the Christchurch justice precinct, Atacocugu described the appeal as being for the killer’s own entertainment, calling him “a narcissist”.
“It was his way to remind himself to be public again after all seven years,” Atacocugu said.
“He doesn’t want to be forgotten. But he lost that chance.”
But the memories came flooding back for Atacocugu when the shooter addressed the court.
Temel Atacocugu speaking to fellow supporters outside the Christchurch Justice Precinct. Photo / Mike Thorpe
“When I saw this face on the screen, flashbacks started bombarding in my mind and remembering that day. And of course my body also reacting and aching, my disabled arm on my left side. So it’s not easy for us dealing still with this court case,” said the survivor.
Rashid Omar’s son Tariq Omar was one of the 51 victims in the attack.
Rashid Omar told the Herald that seeing and hearing his son’s killer was very difficult.
“Today is much better because I don’t have to see the terrorists, but yesterday was terrible because he want to control, manipulate,” Omar said.
He was “not happy at all” about the appeal process.
“I really don’t know how is he going to do it because he’s already showed everybody that he did it.
“He’s so proud of it, and he killed and maimed so many people, and now he’s complaining about his treatment in jail, in the solitary confinement. I don’t know what he expects.”
Rashid Omar's son Tariq Omar, 24, died in the mosque attacks on March 15, 2019.
Omar and Atacocugu are among a group of around 60 people who have attended court in Christchurch to watch a delayed feed from Wellington of the proceedings.
“My main reason here is to support my family, my wife and my children. We’re supporting each other with all other families as well,” Omar said.
“I think that is very healthy, instead of watching at home and there’s no one, no other support with them.”
Rashid Omar, who lost his son in the March attacks, spoke on behalf of victims after the release of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the shootings. Photo / Tim Cronshaw
Atacocugu believed it was important to be together in court.
“We are united and we want the peace and we want the New Zealand also have peace. We need to look to the future and we want to be here to show we are not divided or we are not weak.
“We are stronger than before and we are New Zealanders, and we feel New Zealand is our home and we will never, never ever [be] divided in this country,” Atacocugu said.
Speaking outside court, Atacocugu pointed to the bright sunshine.
“So, let’s forget him and then he can get rot in the jail [for the] rest of his life. And I will walk freely in the sunshine. I’m the survivor. I am the victim, but he is the monster, so he will be rotting in jail.”
