The New Zealand Police have admitted that the suspect in last week’s shootings at two mosques in Christchurch was charged with killing a woman who’s not actually dead, reports said Thursday local time.
A woman’s name was erroneously included on court charge sheets for the suspect’s first appearance, the NZ Herald reported.
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The woman is believed to be connected to the shootings but she’s still alive, said Det.-Supt. Chris Page, as quoted by Stuff.
“The name was supposed to represent many victims and someone was just trying to do the right thing.
“We made a mistake and we will own it.”
Brenton Tarrant, a 28-year-old Australian national, has so far been charged with a single count of murder. The alleged victim’s name has been suppressed.
Tarrant is expected to face a “bundle” of new charges at a court appearance on April 5, Stuff reported.
Page said the police error won’t affect the legality of Tarrant’s prosecution.
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The revelation came as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced that the government would ban semi-automatic and assault rifles in laws that she expected would be enacted by April 11.
The government also expects to establish a buy-back scheme for banned weapons.
But the guns aren’t the only equipment that are being banned; Ardern said the government would also outlaw parts used to convert weapons into semi-automatics, as well as high-capacity magazines.
The Christchurch shootings were carried out using an AR-15, the same gun that was used in a massacre that killed 35 people in Port Arthur, Australia in 1996.
Australia subsequently banned semi-automatics and launched a buy-back program for such weapons.