He wiped out dozens of lives and filmed his racially motivated murders with a helmet camera: now the Christchurch attacker wants to challenge his sentence to life in prison with no chance of parole. As the competent court in the New Zealand capital Wellington announced on Tuesday, 32-year-old right-wing extremist Brenton Tarrant has formally objected to the August 2020 verdict.
The Australian attacked two mosques on March 15, 2019, killing 51 people. 50 others were injured, some seriously. The perpetrator put the meticulously planned massacre with a helmet camera on the internet. Before that, he had emailed a ‘manifesto’ with racist and far-right slogans and put it online.
Sentence without parole is unique in New Zealand
The court did not give a date for a possible hearing in the case, nor did it provide a substantive justification for the terrorist’s legal proceedings. He had pleaded guilty in the case at the time. It was the first time a defendant had been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in New Zealand. As a result, the government has tightened gun laws.
The Christchurch crime in New Zealand’s South Island is considered the bloodiest in recent Pacific state history. Many survivors today still suffer the consequences, are unable to work or have to live in severe pain. The trial gave more than 80 survivors and next of kin the chance to give statements. With emotional and sometimes angry statements, they often turned directly to the perpetrator.
Prime Minister: “He deserves total silence for life”
“I promised long ago not to publicly name the terrorist of March 15,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. “His story must not be told, and his name must not be repeated.” After the verdict about two years ago, Ardern had already emphasized: “He deserves complete silence for life.” Tarrant is in solitary confinement in a maximum security prison in Auckland.
Association: ‘Terrorist has no regrets’
The Federation of Islamic Associations of New Zealand (FIANZ) spoke of a new attempt by the gunman to gain notoriety. He just wants to use the judiciary as a platform for hate speech and try to win new supporters to his cause. “This is a pretty blatant and calculated attempt to re-traumatize the victims of Christchurch in particular and the nation as a whole. This shows that the March 15 terrorist has no regrets,” FIANZ said.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
