A white supremacist responsible for the deaths of 51 Muslim worshippers and the injury of many others at two mosques in New Zealand is now challenging his conviction and sentence.
Brenton Tarrant, 35, carried out the horrific attack in Christchurch in March 2019, marking the most devastating mass shooting in the nation’s history.
The Australian native faced 51 murder charges, 40 attempted murder charges, and a single charge for committing a terrorist act.
Tarrant is currently serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole.
This marked the first instance in New Zealand where a court imposed a life sentence without parole.
Although Tarrant admitted guilt to the charges in March 2020, he is currently seeking permission to appeal both his conviction and sentence.
“I only entered a guilty plea under duress through torture,” he wrote in the notice of appeal.
Tarrant released a racist manifesto shortly before storming the mosques armed with military-style semi-automatics, indiscriminately shooting at Muslims gathered for Friday prayers and live-streaming the killings on Facebook using a head-mounted camera.
New Zealand’s worst peacetime killing shocked the country and prompted the government to quickly tighten gun laws.
The hearing will begin in Wellington on Monday, with the Court of Appeal to consider an application to vacate the Australian man’s guilty pleas and for a trial to be held.
If the court declines that request, he wants leave to appeal his sentence.
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