Quebec City mosque shooter makes second court appearance

The man accused in a Quebec City mosque shooting that left six people dead made a brief second court appearance today under heavy security.

The hearing to officially hand over evidence in the case to the defense and to set a date for a bail hearing lasted only two minutes.

The defence also asked for and was granted a publication ban on future proceedings.

Alexandre Bissonnette, 27, faces six counts of murder and five of attempted murder.

He appeared in the packed courtroom hunched over, wearing a red t-shirt with the words "volunteer" scribbled on the back.

Mohamed Labidi, vice-president of the targeted Quebec City mosque, called for an end to a continuing "cycle of violence," after an arrest was made earlier in the overnight vandalization of a Montreal mosque.
 

Labidi also expressed sadness for Bissonnette for having thrown his life away.

"It hurts, especially when I see someone so young," Labidi told reporters.

"There's a mixture of emotions -- pity for (the accused) and at the same time thoughts for our brothers who died for no reason," he said.

Bissonette's next court appearance is scheduled for March 30.