Man pleads guilty to sharing Christchurch mosque shooting video

A Christchurch businessman has pleaded guilty to sharing a livestream video that was recorded by a gunman last month as he began killing 50 people at two mosques.
By PA
Published 26th Apr 2019, 08:00 BST
Updated 26th Apr 2019, 09:04 BST
Armed police patrol outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 15, 2019. A witness says many people have been killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch.Armed police patrol outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 15, 2019. A witness says many people have been killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch.
Armed police patrol outside a mosque in central Christchurch, New Zealand, Friday, March 15, 2019. A witness says many people have been killed in a mass shooting at a mosque in the New Zealand city of Christchurch.

Philip Arps pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing the mosque video and will remain in jail until he is sentenced on June 14.

He faces a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Prosecutors accused the 44-year-old of sending the video to an unknown person and instructing that person to insert crosshairs and to include a kill count.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Prosecutors say he then forwarded the entire chilling 17-minute video to 30 associates.

New Zealand's chief censor David Shanks banned both the video and a manifesto written by the white supremacist accused of the attack, making it illegal to view, possess or distribute them.

Related topics:New Zealand