Witnesses of the March 15 massacre believe Brenton Tarrant may not have been a lone wolf.
They told the Coroner on Tuesday someone else could have been assisting the terrorist, who opened fire on two mosques, killing 51 worshippers.
The three-day scope hearing started with those that matter most: the 51 innocent people murdered by Australian terrorist Brenton Tarrant.
"For many this hearing will bring with it a range of emotions and for some an exacerbation of distress and trauma," said Coroner Brigitte Windley.
Almost three years after the white supremacist opened fire on worshippers at two Christchurch mosques, victims' families are giving the Coroner their views on questions that are still lingering.
Among the questions is 'did Tarrant have someone helping him on the day of the attack?'.
"We have clients who say that they witnessed somebody else present on the day that they believe is not the terrorist," says Kathryn Dalziel, a lawyer for 13 victims' families.
Families are also upset the Royal Commission of Inquiry found the attack couldn't have been prevented if the terrorist had found it tougher to get a gun licence. They see his ease at getting one as a direct link to the murders.
And it contrasts with their own attempts.
"They know the scrutiny with which the police put them through their licensing. They know that they were literally tipped upside down and shaken about to make sure that they were not terrorists," Dalziel said.
The three-day scope hearing is designed to give all interested parties the chance to submit on what they believe a coronial inquiry should look at. Tarrant will also make submissions through his lawyer.
Some say it wasn't just Tarrant pointing a gun at them on March 15, but police too. And in the minutes after the attack at Al Noor mosque, survivors tried to tell police the terrorist had gone somewhere else.
"They'd been yelled at with guns pointed at them to sit down and shut up. They're injured, they’re being yelled at, and so the timing of that might have saved lives," said Dalziel.
Phone records also show one victim was still answering phone calls nearly an hour after police claim he died from his gunshot wounds.
"This is highly relevant, your honour, because he was left in the mosque until the following day," said Anne Toohey, a lawyer for some of the families.
On Wednesday, the country's darkest day will continue to be scrutinised - and despite a Royal Commission and criminal prosecution, there are still many wanting to know if March 15, 2019 could have been avoided and whether more people on the day could have been saved.
