A New Zealand court has sentenced a self-confessed white supremacist who killed 51 Muslims when they pleaded guilty to life imprisonment without release at two mosques in Christchurch, the first time such a sentence has been handed down in the country.
Brenton Tarrant, a 29-year-old Australian, pleaded guilty earlier this year to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one charge of committing a terrorist act in the March 2019 rampage in the southern city, which he streamed live on Facebook,
In sentencing, Judge Cameron Mander of the entire court said Thursday that a final term was not sufficient for such a crime and that Tarrant had shown no remorse.
“Your crimes are so wrong that even if you are arrested until you die, it will not exhaust the demands of punishment and denial,” Mander said.
“As far as I can tell, you’re low on any empathy for your victims.”
Mosque kills survivors, from left, Mustafa Boztas, Wassail Daragmih and Temel Atacocugu as they leave Christchurch Supreme Court following Brenton Tarrant’s sentencing [Mark Baker/ AP]
Supporters of mosque victims shoot outside Christchurch High Court during hearing [Mark Baker/ AP]
Prosecutors told the court at the opening of the sentencing hearing on Monday that Tarrant had long planned the attacks and wanted to create fear among immigrants.
The killer had represented himself and said Thursday through a lawyer in court that he would not serve the sentence. Dressed in gray prison clothes and surrounded by guards, Tarrant did not respond to the sentence.
“The hatred that lies at the heart of your hostility towards certain members of the community that you came to this country to kill has no place here – it has no place anywhere,” Mander said.
‘Complete and complete silence’
Temel Atacocugu, who was shot nine times during the attack on the Al Noor mosque, said he was relieved by the sentence.
“Finally, we can breathe freely, and we feel safe, and my children feel safe,” Atacocugu told The Associated Press. “The justice system has locked up this ideology forever.”
Gamal Fouda, the imam of the Al Noor Mosque, said that “no punishment would bring back our loved ones”, but was proud of New Zealand’s response to extremism.
“We respect our justice system and in New Zealand’s Muslim community, and the non-Muslim as well – we stood together against hatred. And thus our own model for the world. Extremists are all the same. Whether they use religion, nationalism or another ideology, he said.
“All extremists, they represent hatred. But we are here today. We represent love, compassion, Muslim and non-Muslim people of faith and of no faith. That is us, New Zealanders, and we are very proud that we are Muslims in New Zealand and we will continue to serve this country, and no punishment will bring our loved ones back. “
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said she was relieved “that person will never see the light of day”.
“The trauma of March 15 is not easily cured, but today I hope it is the last one where we have some reason to hear or pronounce the name of the terrorist behind it. She deserves a life of to be complete and complete silence, “she said,
Ardern praised the survivors and families of the victims who made emotionally charged statements in court this week, and called on Tarrant to be sentenced to life without release.
“Nothing will ease the pain, but I hope that through this whole process you have felt the arms of New Zealand around you, and I hope that you will continue to do so through all the days that follow.”
Scott Morrison, the Prime Minister of Australia, also welcomes Tarrant’s conviction.
“Justice was delivered today to the terrorist and murderer for his heinous and heinous crimes in Christchurch. It is right that we will never see or hear from him again,” Morrison said.
The March 2019 attacks shocked New Zealand and demanded new laws banning the deadliest types of semi-automatic weapons. They also called for global changes to social media protocols.
During the four-day hearing, 90 survivors and family members recounted the horror of the attacks and the trauma they felt.
Some spoke angrily with the gun, calling him a monster and a coward. Some recited verses from the Qur’an or addressed it in Arabic. A few spoke softly to Tarrant and said they forgave him.
Sara Qasem spoke Thursday about her beloved father Abdelfattah, who was killed in the attacks.
“All a daughter ever wants is her father. I want to go on more road trips with him. I want to smell his garden’s worried cook. His cologne,” she said. “I want to hear him tell more about the olive trees in Palestine. I want to hear his voice. The voice of my father. The voice of my Baba.”
.
