New Zealand man pleads guilty to sharing Christchurch shooting video

Christchurch local Philip Arps has pleaded guilty to sharing a live stream video recorded by a gunman last month as he began killing 50 people.

Philip Arps stands in the dock at the District Court in Christchurch, New Zealand. Source: New Zealand Herald

A Christchurch businessman has pleaded guilty to sharing a live stream video recorded by a gunman as he began killing 50 people at two mosques.

Philip Arps pleaded guilty to two counts of distributing the 15 March mosque video and will remain in jail until he is sentenced on 14 June.

He faces a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

Prosecutors accused the 44-year-old of sending the video to an unknown person and instructing that person to insert crosshairs and include a kill count.

Prosecutors say he then forwarded the 17-minute video to 30 associates.

New Zealand's chief censor David Shanks banned both the video and a manifesto written by the white supremacist accused of the attack, making them illegal to view, possess or distribute.

Six people in total have appeared in New Zealand court on charges they illegally redistributed the gunman's video.