Brenton Tarrant, the man responsible for the deadly Christchurch mosque attacks, has returned to court. He is seeking to overturn his guilty pleas, local media reported.
Tarrant appeared in a Wellington court through a video link. He told the court that he was not mentally fit when he accepted responsibility for his crimes.
The Australian national carried out the attack in March 2019. He opened fire on two mosque sites during Friday prayers in Christchurch. The attack killed 51 Muslim worshippers and injured many others.
It remains the worst mass shooting in New Zealand’s history. The incident shocked the world and raised concerns about online extremism.
Tarrant had shared a racist manifesto before the attack. He also livestreamed the killings on Facebook using a head-mounted camera.
At first, he denied all charges. He was preparing for a full trial. However, in 2020, he changed his plea and admitted guilt.
He pleaded guilty to 51 murder charges. He also accepted 40 attempted murder charges. One terrorism charge was also included.
During the latest hearing, Tarrant claimed prison conditions harmed his mental state. He said these conditions made him unable to think clearly.
“I did not have the mental health required to make decisions,” he told the court.
He argued that his choices were not voluntary. He described the prison environment as harsh and inhumane.
Court documents show the appeal judges will review his claims. They will decide if he was capable of making rational decisions at the time.
His legal team remains unnamed due to a court order. They were not available for public comment.
Tarrant is currently serving a life sentence without parole. This is the first such sentence ever given in New Zealand.
The appeal hearing is scheduled to last five days. It is expected to conclude by Friday.
If the court rejects his request, another hearing will review his sentence later. If the appeal is accepted, the case will return to the High Court.
In that situation, Tarrant could face a new trial. However, the convictions related to the mosque attacks remain in place for now.
In other news read more about Death Toll Rises to 33 in Tarlai Mosque Suicide Attack
The case continues to draw strong public attention. Many see it as a test of justice and accountability after one of the most tragic mosque attacks in modern history.
