Christchurch gunman seeks to appeal convictions and withdraw guilty plea

"The Australian white supremacist who murdered 51 Muslim worshippers at two mosques in Christchurch in 2019, in the worst mass shooting in the New Zealand's history, is asking one of the country's highest courts to vacate his guilty pleas and hold a new trial. Brenton Tarrant pleaded guilty in March 2020 to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and a terrorism charge, after initially saying he would defend the charges."

"The court will consider whether the appeal can proceed because it was filed outside the legislated time frame to do so. The 35-year-old is expected to give evidence via video link during the week-long hearing in Wellington, which begins on 9 February. According to court documents, the court will be primarily considering the application to vacate the guilty pleas. The central issue before the Court will be whether at the time Mr Tarrant entered his guilty pleas he was incapable of making rational decisions"

Brenton Tarrant pleaded guilty in March 2020 to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and a terrorism charge for the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks. He was sentenced in August 2020 to life imprisonment without the chance of release. In 2022 he filed an appeal against both his convictions and sentence and now seeks to vacate his guilty pleas. The Court of Appeal will first decide whether the late-filed appeal can proceed and will primarily consider whether Tarrant was incapable of making rational decisions when entering the pleas due to alleged torturous and inhumane prison conditions. If pleas are vacated the case returns to the High Court for trial; if not, a later hearing will address the sentence appeal. Enhanced security and viewing arrangements are in place for the Wellington hearing beginning 9 February.

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