Brenton Tarrant, the Australian white supremacist who killed 51 people at two Christchurch mosques in 2019, has launched an appeal seeking to overturn his conviction, New Zealand courts confirmed on Monday.
Tarrant, a former gym instructor, admitted to carrying out the country’s deadliest modern-day mass shooting and was sentenced to life imprisonment without parole in August 2020 — the harshest sentence in New Zealand history.
In his appeal, Tarrant argues that his detention conditions during the trial were “torturous and inhumane”, leaving him incapable of making rational decisions when he pleaded guilty, according to a court synopsis.
The Court of Appeal in Wellington will first consider the validity of his appeal. If the court upholds his conviction, it will hold a separate hearing later this year to consider an appeal against his sentence. Because the appeal was filed out of time, Tarrant requires the court’s permission for it to proceed.
Attack details
On 15 March 2019, Tarrant used semi-automatic weapons to target worshippers at the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch. He livestreamed the 17-minute attack and published an online manifesto beforehand. His victims were Muslim men, women and children.
Court restrictions and public access
Only legal counsel, media representatives, and court officials are allowed in the courtroom during Monday’s hearing. Families and friends of victims can view the proceedings remotely in Christchurch with a one-hour delay. Members of the public can watch via video link from a separate courtroom in Wellington, also with a delay.
Aya Al-Umari, whose brother Hussein was killed at Linwood Mosque, said she had believed “this is the end of it” when Tarrant was sentenced. “Little did you know that you are allowed to do this six years later. I was not prepared to do this,” she told The Press.
The appeal is being heard by three Court of Appeal judges. In most such cases, a decision is reserved and published later, meaning a verdict is unlikely this week.
Aftermath
Following the attacks, Facebook removed 1.5 million videos showing the livestream within 24 hours. Then-prime minister Jacinda Ardern quickly moved to tighten gun laws and pressed social media companies to curb online extremism.
In 2021, Tarrant’s former lawyer, Tony Ellis, said his client believed “the simplest way out was to plead guilty,” arguing the plea was made under duress. The names of Tarrant’s current lawyers have been suppressed by the court.
