50 murder counts filed on New Zealand mosque attacker suspect

The man accused of carrying out the Christchurch mosque attacks will face 50 murder charges and 39 attempted murder charges when he makes his second court appearance, New Zealand police said on Thursday.

Police had earlier filed a single, representative murder charge against the 28-year-old Australian, who is due to appear via video link during Friday's brief hearing, and will not be required to enter a plea.

Fifty people died in the 15 March attacks on two mosques and another 50 were injured.

The attacker's first appearance was on the day after the attacks in the Christchurch District Court.

His case has now been moved to the High Court due to the seriousness of the charges.

The judge said in a note that the brief hearing would mainly be about the accused gunman's legal representation, who has said he wants to represent himself.

Many worry that he will try to use his trial as a soapbox to push his white supremacist views.

One of the victim's son, Yama Nabi, told Television New Zealand that he planned to attend court to listen to what the attacker had to say.

"Not going to be an easy thing to go to court but, step by step," Nabi said.