Bombmaker Aaron Ellis had the Christchurch massacre shooter’s manifesto on his phone and a shed full of explosives, court told

He insists he had a shed full of explosives for “entertainment purposes”, but prosecutors say this man collated extreme anti-Islam material – including a manifesto by a mass murderer.

Bomb maker Aaron Ellis in a photo from his social media profile.

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A grandfather who built bombs in his shed expressed anti-Islamic views online and kept the Christchurch massacre shooter’s “manifesto” on his phone, a court has heard.

On Monday, prosecutors asked the District Court to reject Aaron Ellis’ “implausible” claim that the explosive chemicals in his home were for fireworks and “entertainment”.

However Stacy Carter, for Ellis, said her client was upset at the way his views had been portrayed, while accepting the circumstances “looked bad” for him.

“He has views on certain religions marrying off children as young as 12 and having sexual relations with them,” she said.

“He has very firm views about how he finds that abhorrent and disgusting and disgraceful, that’s a view he carries.

“But that’s not specific to any kind of harm he wishes to bring on to any person of any race … he did not intend to harm any person nor damage any property.”

Ellis, 43, of Davoren Park, pleaded guilty to taking steps to manufacture an explosive and

possessing bombmaking instructions.

In April 2019, police raided his home and found a highly volatile substance known as “Mother of Satan” in his shed’s freezer.

The chemical – TATP triacetone triperoxide – had to be destroyed in four controlled detonations, 10 minutes apart.

On Monday, prosecutor Peter Cannell said Ellis had displayed a “defensive” attitude toward his offending that made it difficult to determine his level of insight.

“To say he had these materials for entertainment is simply implausible – when was the last time someone set fire to a quantity of Mother of Satan for entertainment?” he said.

He said Ellis’ background showed a progression from an interest in military paraphernalia through to firearms, then on to explosives and “anti-Islamic, patriotic ideology”.

“He had a text message conversation relating to the Christchurch shooter’s manifesto, which was also located on his phone,” he said.

“(Those beliefs are) a far more plausible explanation for the materials found than what’s been suggested by him.”.

Ms Carter insisted her client objected only to extremist behaviour and had a genuine curiosity about explosives – which Judge Rauf Soulio found difficult to accept.

“He had designs for a ‘shrapnel reel’ containing a strip of nails and screws in a row … why does one make a nail bomb?” he asked.

Ms Carter conceded she did not know, but noted she “had made smoke bombs when I was younger with my brothers”.

Judge Soulio suggested she “not go any further” with that submission.

He remanded Ellis in custody for sentencing in September.