Wellington, New Zealand – Web Desk: A New Zealand court has dismissed an appeal by Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant against his life sentence for the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks that killed 51 worshippers.
The court ruled that the convict’s attempt to overturn his sentence was entirely without merit and carried no legal weight. The judges clarified that Tarrant had pleaded guilty voluntarily without any pressure.
On March 15, 2019, the attacker opened fire at two Christchurch mosques — Al Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre — killing 51 people, including women, children, and the elderly. The massacre is considered the worst terrorist attack in New Zealand’s history.
Tarrant was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in August 2020 — the harshest sentence ever handed down in New Zealand. In his recent appeal, he argued that his prison conditions during the trial were inhumane, rendering him incapable of sound decision-making.
The court rejected this argument, stating that evidence showed the convict was mentally stable and that his statements contained contradictions. Reports from experts and prison authorities also contradicted his claims.
Lawyers representing the victim families and survivors welcomed the court’s decision, saying it spared them the mental trauma of a retrial.
The ruling brings a definitive legal end to a case that shocked the world and prompted New Zealand to swiftly enact tough new gun control laws.
