Brenton Tarrant, the man responsible for the 2019 mass shooting that killed 51 Muslim worshipers at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand, appeared before the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn his guilty plea. He claims harsh prison conditions led to an “irrationality” that forced him to admit his crimes, including terrorism and murder. Tarrant, a self-described white supremacist, argues that his mental state deteriorated due to solitary confinement, and he suffered from “nervous exhaustion” before his plea.
During the hearing, Tarrant testified that he felt he had no choice but to plead guilty ahead of his trial. Crown attorney Barnaby Hawes countered that there was no evidence of serious mental illness and suggested Tarrant had other options, such as delaying the trial. Tarrant admitted to trying to appear confident during court proceedings, emphasizing that his actions were tied to his extremist beliefs.
The appeal, which could lead to a trial if successful, will continue this week, with judges expected to issue a decision later. Tarrant also seeks to appeal his life sentence without parole, a punishment unprecedented in New Zealand.
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