Families react to alleged gunman's appearance

The families of those lost in the March 15 mosque attacks have spoken out following the alleged gunman's appearance in Chrstchurch's High Court.

A total of 88 charges were laid against the alleged shooter. These were 49 murder charges and 39 for attempted murder. The first murder charge laid on March 16 was amended to correct the name of the victim.

Families of those killed were allowed their first glimpse of the murder-accused via audio-visual link, with one saying outside court that he thought he "looked like a coward".

Yama and Omar Nabi, sons of the oldest murder victim Haji-Daoud Nabi, were highly vocal about the attacks from the beginning.

Omar Nabi said he didn't believe the murder-accused should have had the right to a defence, or go through standard psychological evaluation.

"He was mentally stable enough to pick up that gun and kill 50 people."

Shane Tait and Jonothan Hudson will represent the accused gunman, who rescinded his previous request to represent himself in court.

He was remanded in custody until his next court date on June 14.