Christchurch Mosque Gunman Sentence: Flights to Court Cost Nearly $ 40,000

By Anneke Smith for RNZ

It cost nearly $ 40,000 to carry the man responsible for the Christchurch Mosque attacks to and from Christchurch in an Air Force Hercules for sentencing.

The Australian terrorist was jailed for life without parole for the March 15 attacks in what was the first in New Zealand last month.

He had previously pleaded guilty to murdering 51 worshipers at the Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Center, and shooting and wounding 40 more in an attempt to assassinate them.

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• Christchurch Mosque Attack: Mass Killer Brenton Tarrant tried to avoid appearing in his own sentence

Brenton Tarrant got out of a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules with black security gear the day before his four-day sentence began.

Information disclosed to RNZ under the Official Information Act shows that it cost the Defense Force $ 39,321 to use the Hercules.

The aircraft’s expenses included marginal costs for personnel, fuel, airport fees, and other associated costs.

Tarrant had asked to attend his sentencing remotely; his lawyers argued that it would save costs and avoid the need for a safe transfer from Auckland to Christchurch.

It was a request opposed by the Crown, who said there was no reason why the sentence should not be carried out in the usual way with the defendant physically present.

Judge Mander eventually ordered Tarrant to appear in court for sentencing; citing concerns that he might be trying to avoid being publicly held accountable for his crimes.

The mosque shooter has been designated as a terrorist entity since his sentencing; freeze their assets and criminalize participation or support for their activities.

Victims and politicians have expressed different views on whether he should be imprisoned in New Zealand at a cost of $ 5000 a day or sent back to Australia.