‘Neo-Nazi’ businessman faces court charged with sharing sickening footage of the Christchurch mosque massacre
- Man accused of distributing footage of Christchurch massacre denied bail
- Philip Neville Arps, 44, appeared in court on Wednesday following his arrest
- Allegedly distributed live-stream of mass murder at the Deans Avenue Mosque
- The Christchurch businessman faces maximum 14 years in prison if convicted
A controversial businessman accused of spreading footage of the Christchurch mosque massacre over the internet has appeared in court.
Philip Neville Arps allegedly copied the live-stream of the mass killings, which showed the slaughter and wounding of scores of innocent men, women and children and distributed the chilling footage the day after last Friday’s mass killing, Christchurch District Court heard.
Arps, 44, whose insulation firm has Nazi themes in its company logo, was charged with two counts of violating New Zealand’s 1993 Films, Videos and Publications Classification Act by distributing an ‘objectionable publication’.
Philip Neville Arps (pictured) appeared in Christchurch District Court, where he was remanded in custody until his next hearing on April 15
Tattooed Arps glowered as he stood in the dock while his photograph was being taken at the start of the hearing.
Dressed scruffily in grey tracksuit pants, a dirty blue T-shirt and striped socks but no shoes, Arps listened intently while District Judge Stephen O’Driscoll told him he was not required to enter a plea.
Police prosecutor Bronwen Blackmore outlined the two charges against Arps; that on March 16 he distributed ‘a live-stream of the murder of multiple victims at the Deans Avenue Mosque, knowing or having reasonable cause to believe that the publication is objectionable’.
Friends and supporters of Philip Neville Arps leave Christchurch District Court on Wednesday after he was denied bail
Earlier the judge had cleared the public gallery of ahead of the hearing, only allowing legal officials, police and accredited journalists to listen to the proceedings.
Two of Arp’s ‘close family members’ were ordered out of the court and Judge O’Driscoll rejected an application from his lawyer Anselm Williams to allow them back into the hearing, saying it was a ‘high risk’ situation.
A supporter leaves court after Philip Neville Arps was remanded in custody
Married father-of-six Philip Neville Arps (pictured) has been remanded in custody after he allegedly reposted the live-streaming of the Christchurch terror attack on Saturday
The married father-of-six, who was arrested in a police raid at his Christchurch home on Tuesday, was refused bail.
He was remanded in custody until his next hearing on April 15.
Judge O’Driscoll told him: ‘You will be remanded in custody until the 15th April.’
Arps replied: ‘Yup.’
The businessman faces a maximum of 14 years in prison if convicted.
Several people attended Christchurch District Court to support Philip Neville Arps
Philip Neville Arps (pictured) allegedly distributed the chilling live-stream of Friday’s mass murder at the Deans Avenue Mosque
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