A man accused of threatening to attack two Christchurch mosques on the second anniversary of the city's terror attack is battling to keep his name secret.
Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon
The 27-year-old is accused of posting threats - to target Masjid An-Nur and the Linwood Islamic Centre using car bombs - on online forum 4chan on 28 February.
The two mosques were the target of the 15 March 2019 terror attack, which left 51 Muslim worshippers dead and many more injured and distraught.
The man is facing one charge of threatening to kill, and seven charges for distributing the Christchurch terrorist's manifesto. The charge of threatening to kill carries a maximum of seven years in jail, and distributing the manifesto carries a maximum of 14 years imprisonment.
Having entered not guilty pleas on all charges last week, the man is now fighting to keep his name secret.
A hearing on the matter was held at Christchurch District Court this afternoon where the man's lawyer Anselm Williams argued for interim name suppression to continue.
The judge, Alistair Garland, adjourned the matter until 9 July to allow the defence sufficient time to obtain reports.
Other submissions made by the defence have been suppressed.
Media organisations, including RNZ, oppose the continuation of name suppression, with submissions provided through their counsel Robert Stewart.
Judge Garland said interim name suppression would continue until at least the July hearing.
In the meantime, the man has been remanded in custody until his next appearance, which is a Crown case review hearing scheduled for 15 April.