A Christchurch terror attack survivor made a personal plea to the Coroner at the mosque inquest today, asking for her not to address the killer as Mr Tarrant.
Deputy Coroner Brigitte Windley was standing as court had just adjourned for lunch, when Merwais Waziri rose from the back of the court.
"Sorry we've got a gentleman waving at me from the back," Windley said.
Waziri addressed the court: "All the victims want that his name shouldn’t be taken as Mr Tarrant – he's not a mister. Can you call him a terrorist, please?"
Windley replied: "I appreciate your comment but this is a court and he's entitled to be call Mr Tarrant in this court".
Waziri wasn't backing down from his stance.
"That's offending us when you call him mister, so please say his name not mister please."
Windley again responded she wouldn't be able to comply with his request.
"I understand your concern, but this is my court and he will be addressed as I’ve indicated."
Outside court, Waziri, who suffered bullet wounds and had shrapnel in his skull after being shot at Al Noor Mosque, said: "If they want to say his name, say his name, but don't call him a mister.
"He's not a mister – he's a coward."
Abdul Aziz, a worshipper from the Linwood Islamic Centre who threw an EFTPOS machine at the killer before police arrived, shared the same view.
"We get very disappointed when they call him mister. We give the mister name to people who have done good – not killing people. You don’t call him mister."
A 111 call has been made public for the first time ever. (Source: 1News)
The court also heard today how police were not immediately sent to the Linwood mosque on the day of the terror attack, despite being told the masjid was a potential target during an emergency call.
A parliamentary staffer had called police at 1.40pm, one minute after receiving the killer's manifesto via email. The Linwood mosque was attacked at 1.53pm.
Inspector Ian Harris denied a lack of action by police, stating other action was taken quickly by officers.
"It certainly didn't prevent the terrible atrocities that occurred there, but there was action that was taken," he said.
The inquest comes more than four years after the convicted terrorist and mass murderer gunned down 51 worshippers in Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre on March 15, 2019.
The seven-week inquest continues tomorrow.
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