More than 600 people, including victims' families, survivors and witnesses queued outside the Christchurch Justice Precinct today to attend a coronial inquest into the deadly mosque shootings.
It comes more than four years after the convicted terrorist and mass murderer gunned down 51 worshippers in Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Mosque on March 15, 2019.
Proceedings were opened with a karakia and a mihi from Mana Whenua Ngai Tuahuriri. Al Noor Mosque Imam Gamal Fouda recited from the Qur’an.
The Coroner said each of the 51 victims must be remembered as a unique life that had been lost. (Source: 1News)
Fouda witnessed the bloodshed at Al Noor Mosque. He was determined to attend the inquest in person, even though he knows it will be retraumatising.
“I hope this will never happen to anyone again and we can learn the lessons," he told 1News.
"Everything happened in front of me, and if every family lost one or two people, I have lost 51 people in front of me.”
The public gallery in the High Court was full of families and survivors, with two other courtrooms being used to accommodate other attendees.
It hopes to answer some of the questions which remain after the 2019 mosque shootings. (Source: 1News)
A further 100 people have registered to watch the hearing online.
As the Inquest was formally opened, the names of the 51 shaheed were read aloud and the sound of people quietly crying could be heard from families in the public gallery.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Chief Coroner Brigitte Windley said: “While each of the 51 were joined together by faith, the events of 15 March has also joined them together in their deaths."
"But none of them are defined by what happened on 15 March. We must recognise each of them as a unique life that has been lost. That each and every one has left behind loved ones and each and every one has left a gap in our community."
A coronial inquest into the Christchurch mosque attacks will finally give people an opportunity to ask questions about what happened on March 15, 2019. (Source: Breakfast)
She explained that the scale of the inquiry is unprecedented in the Coroner’s Court, and that the first phase will cover 10 main issues out of 13.
“This inquiry presents an important and critical opportunity to also look at what we can learn from this atrocity and speak for those who have lost their lives in an effort to protect the living."
One of those issues is if more could have been done to help victims survive.
“For a great many death was instant or extremely rapid, leaving no question of possible survival. For a small number we need to look at that question more closely," Windley said.
There are 18 lawyers, representing families, police, St John, Fire and Emergency and Te Whatu Ora.
The Coroner had invited immediate families to provide a glimpse into their loved one's lives.
“The video we will play in a moment is testament to the unique character of each of these people and the enduring strength of their families' love for them."
A tribute video was played, remembering each of the 51 victims, with photos and messages from their families. As it was played, the sounds of raw grief echoed through the courtroom.
The Coroner asked “that we bring the memories of the 51 lives that were lost, to this court, so that we may give them a voice, so that our understanding of the events of March 15 can transition from darkness to light”.
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