Wrong victim named in initial NZ gunman charge document: police

A group of students (C) sings in front of flowers left in tribute to victims at the Botanical Garden in Christchurch on March 19, 2019, four days after a shooting incident at two mosques that claimed the lives of 50 people. – New Zealanders have begun handing in weapons in response to government appeals following the Christchurch massacre, but the gesture has put some squarely in the social media firing line. (Photo by Anthony WALLACE / AFP)

New Zealand police on Thursday admitted that the person they originally charged suspected mosques gunman Brenton Tarrant with murdering is actually still alive.

“An error was made in the charging document prepared for the first court appearance of the man charged with murder in relation to the Christchurch terror attacks,” a police spokesman told AFP.

“The error saw an incorrect victim name included in the charging document.”

Tarrant appeared in court Saturday on the first of what were expected to be multiple murder and other charges.

Fifty people died last Friday when a gunman entered the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch, on New Zealand’s South Island.

“We have spoken with the person incorrectly named on the charging document and apologised,” police said.

“The charge sheet will be amended. New Zealand Police regret this error and apologise for any harm caused by the mistake.”

© Agence France-Presse