The Australian charged with murder in the mass shootings at two New Zealand mosques appears "rational" and aware of the situation, his ex-lawyer told AFP on Monday.

Duty lawyer Richard Peters represented the 28-year-old during a preliminary court hearing, but was dropped after Brenton Tarrant indicated he wanted to represent himself.

"The way he presented was as a rational and someone who was not suffering any mental disability. That's how he appeared. He seemed to understand what was going on," Peters said.

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