Christchurch attacker appeals conviction and sentence

Brenton Tarrant, the man who killed 51 people at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, has filed an appeal against his case and sentence.

Tarrant was jailed for life without parole in 2020 for murder and attempted murder.

In March 2019, Tarrant entered two mosques in the city, carrying military-grade semi-automatic guns. He live-streamed the attack on Facebook.

He pleaded guilty to charges of murder, attempted murder and terrorism at his trial and decided not to give any testimony. His sentence of life without parole was the first such sentence handed down in New Zealand.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: "His is a name that shouldn't be repeated and I'm going to apply that same rule in commenting on his attempts to revictimise people. We should give him nothing."

The government does not name him to avoid giving him a platform or notoriety.

Imam Gamal Fouda, a survivor of the attack told the New Zealand Herald: "I cannot help but think that this is another action from this terrorist to harm his victims again by keeping alive the memory of him and his terrorist actions."

No hearing for the appeal has yet been set.

Image by Chickenonline from Pixabay