THE Christchurch mosque terrorist has reportedly sacked his lawyer and plans to represent himself sparking fears he’ll use the trial to promote his twisted beliefs.

Gunman Brenton Tarrant may have taken inspiration for this brazen move from fellow white supremacist Dylann Roof who killed nine in the Charleston church shooting.

7 Gunman Brenton Tarrant has sacked his lawyer and plans to represent himself in court Credit: EPA

7 He may have taken inspiration for this brazen move from fellow white supremacist killer Dylann Roof Credit: AP:Associated Press

The duty lawyer who represented Tarrant, 28, in court on Saturday told the New Zealand Herald that he was no longer acting for the mass killer.

Richard Peters said that the gunman appeared lucid and told him he wanted to represent himself in future.

"What did seem apparent to me is he seemed quite clear and lucid, whereas this may seem like very irrational behaviour," Mr Peters said.

"He didn't appear to me to be facing any challenges or mental impairment, other than holding fairly extreme views."

This choice suggests that Tarrant may want to use the court proceeding as a platform for his racist views.

PLATFORM FOR HATE

The smirking killer already stirred up anger by flashing a white power symbol when he appeared at Christchurch District Court on Saturday.

He reportedly smirked when media photographed him in the dock, flanked by two police officers.

Aussie-born Tarrant, 28, has been charged with murder and more charges are expected to be laid.

If he represents himself in court, Tarrant will join a list of other arrogant killers including Ted Bundy and Dylann Roof.

Tarrant already cited Roof in his sickening manifesto which was released shortly before Friday’s terror attack that claimed 50 lives.

INSPIRED BY KILLER DYLANN ROOF

In the chilling manifesto, titled The Great Replacement, he declared that he wishes he'd "killed more invaders and traitors".

He also wrote: "I have read the writings of Dylann Roof and many others, but only really took true inspiration from Knight Justiciar Breivik (sic)."

The use of "Knight" is a reference to the Knight's Templar - a legion of Christian soldiers from the 12th century.

Tarrant declared his main inspiration to be Anders Breivik - the far-right terrorist who killed 69 kids of a Workers' Youth League on the island of Utøya in Norway in 2011.

The killer vowed to take revenge for the "thousands of European lives lost to terror attacks".

He opened fire on two mosques in Christchurch during Friday prayers, killing at least 50 people.

Tarrant livestreamed himself as he sprayed bullets at worshippers and kids in the worst terror attack in New Zealand's history.

7 Arrogant serial killer Ted Bundy also represented himself in court Credit: AP:Associated Press

New Zealand mosque shootings – Suspect Brenton Tarrant appears in court as funerals are held after 50 people shot dead in terror attack at two Christchurch mosques

7 The 28-year-old also went to North Korea during his travels

7 A circular diagram that mentions 'ethnic autonomy' features in the gunman's chilling manifesto

7 A picture on the shooter's now deleted Twitter page including a the Black Sun symbol which is used in Satanism and neo-Nazism