A Christchurch white supremacist made hate-filled outbursts both inside and outside court as he had a charge of breaching release conditions dropped.
Philip Arps continued an expletive-filled tirade at media outside Christchurch District Court. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
Philip Neville Arps, 45, was arrested during the week of the Christchurch mosque shooter's sentencing in August, for allegedly going near the Linwood mosque, something he is not allowed to do under his parole conditions.
He was on parole at the time after being jailed for 21 months last year for sharing the video of the terror attack online.
As he entered the courtroom inside the Christchurch District Court this morning, Arps made anti-Semitic comments towards journalists and directed abuse at the Department of Corrections' lawyer.
"Don't say a word," Arps's lawyer Anselm Williams told him.
"I'm a very opinionated man," Arps told Williams.
Williams took him outside the courtroom and after the pair returned, Arps appeared to be calmer.
But the calm did not last long after he was called to the dock.
Arps at times turned away from the judge, began breathing heavily and made loud grunting noises.
This prompted the judge to tell him to be quiet.
"I'm struggling to breathe," Arps said.
Philip Neville Arps told the judge he couldn't breathe. (file pic) Photo: Pool / Stuff
Williams argued there was a lack of evidence against him from the police and the Department of Corrections, and asked the court to dismiss the charge.
The charge was subsequently dismissed without opposition.
Minutes later, Arps appeared fine after his earlier heavy breathing and he saluted the judge.
Outside court, he continued to rant at the media, the Department of Corrections and the police, making anti-Semitic comments about Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and former prime minister Sir John Key.
Arps will be back at court in November to argue for costs.