The Star: October 26, 2023

Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
initially deemed ‘prank’
by the Chief Censor as “a crude
booklet that promotes murder
and terrorism”.
The staffer was questioned by
lawyers for the victims’ families
and the wounded on whether he
took the threat seriously enough.
They asked him why, given
the terrorist gave his name and
outlined his intentions clearly, he
stated it was probably a “prank”.
He said he was “literally
two minutes into receiving it”
when he passed on his concerns
directly to the police – and was
adamant he had acted as quickly
as possible.
The staffer was questioned if it
would have been more helpful to
have a “more senior police” contact
for threats like the gunman’s
instead of calling 111.
He said “that would be nice”
but staff were still advised to call
111 directly with any received
threats or concerns.
Deputy Chief Coroner Brigitte
Windley asked the staffer if, looking
back, he would have done
anything differently.
“No, not at all – I don’t know
what more we could have done,”
he replied.
The inquest began on Tuesday
before Coroner Windley in
Christchurch. It is set to run for
at least six weeks.
More than 600 people have
CRUCIAL:
Deputy Chief
Coroner Brigitte
Windley explained
the inquest process,
saying it was
important to seek
answers for the
victims’ families,
and for the country
as a whole.
PHOTO: GEORGE
HEARD
registered to attend in person
over that time and another 100
will watch via a livestream link
in New Zealand and around the
world.
Coroner Windley explained
the inquest process and why it
was crucial to seek answers, for
not just the families of the dead
and survivors but for the whole of
New Zealand.
She said the objective was to
provide answers to outstanding
questions for grieving families
about what happened to their
loved ones – and to examine
whether anything further can be
done to prevent more tragedies.
A PRE-TRIAL date in
Wellington has been set for two
far-right activists facing charges
over sharing the live stream
of the Christchurch mosque
attacks.
Kelvyn Alp
and Hannah
Spierer, presenters
on the Counterspin
platform,
are charged with
distributing
objectionable
NEWS 7
Far right activists
receive pre-trial
date for sharing
livestream
Kelvyn Alp
Thursday October 26 2023 The Star
material. The publication is a
so-called documentary which included
the full livestream of the
Christchurch mosque attacks.
The video was banned by the
chief censor just days after the
attacks happened in March 2019.
The pair did not appear in
Wellington District Court on
Tuesday but their defence lawyer
represented them over the
phone.
Judge Bruce Davidson
confirmed the case had been
transferred to Wellington from
Christchurch, largely for the convenience
of the defence counsel.
He said a pre-trial will be held
on February 14, 2024, on the
basis witnesses were available,
to deal with issues around the
admissibility of evidence.
Judge Davidson also ruled that
Alp and Spierer’s bail continued
and excused them from attending
the next hearing.
The defendants were also facing
charges for failing to carry
out obligations in relation to a
computer search, while Spierer
is also charged with failing to
supply identifying particulars
and obstructing
police.
Alp and Spierer
first appeared in
District Court
over the charges
in August and
December 2022.
In August 2022,
the pair refused
Hannah
Spierer
to enter the dock while a group
of their supporters clashed with
protesters outside the building.
– RNZ
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