A court in New Zealand on Saturday, ruled that Australian national Brenton Harrison Tarrant, charged with murder in the wake of the Christchurch mosque attacks, should stay in custody without plea until April 5, local media reported.

Axar.az reports citing Sputnik that, the 28-year-old resident of the city of Dunedin in southern New Zealand appeared in court earlier in the day.

According to New Zealand Herald, Tarrant smirked as he stood in the dock.

Moreover, the outlet published a picture of him, wearing a prison robe and cuffs, and flanked by security guards. Tarrant was depicted showing the so-called OK gesture, which some associate with the white supremacy movement.

The police said earlier on Saturday, that further charges would be laid against Tarrant over the mosque massacre.

The violent shooting in two mosques in Christchurch, described by New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern as a terrorist attack, took place on Friday, claiming lives of 49 people and leaving dozens injured.