New Zealand Mosque Gunman Sentenced to Life in Jail
New Zealand mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the massacre of 51 Muslim worshippers.
On 15th March 2019 a 29-year-old Australian white supremacist named Brenton Tarrant, in Christchurch New Zealand, went to two Mosques and opened fired during the friday prayers. He opened at the two Mosques for 20 mins. He killed 51 people. White Supremacist is a person who beliefs that white people are suprerior to people of other races. This was the worst terror attack in New Zealand’s history. Tarrant was a gym instructor. He was arrested and put on trial. He had a legal team who would fight the case for him, but Tarrant sacked his lawyers and declared he would represent himself.
Fearing Tarrant may use the platform to spread his beliefs about White Supremacy, the court had imposed strict restrictions on the media while reporting the court proceedings. The day the judge was going to announce Tarrant’s punishment, many victims and the families came to court to give their testimony about what happened at the mosque and how the incident changed their lives. A widow Ambreen Naeem said in the court, “"Since my husband and son passed away, I've never had a proper, normal sleep. I don't think I ever will,His punishment should continue forever."Today Judge Cameron Mander said that Tarrant’s ideology is warped and is based on hatred. The Judge said Tarrant is wicked and inhuman to attack defenceless men, women and children. He said because of this the court needs to give him a very severe punishment.
The judge announced that Tarrant will be sentenced to life in prison without parole. Such a punishment has never been given New Zealand’s legal history. Throughout the sentencing, Tarrant remained impassive
Tarrant had the right to speak at the sentencing but he decided not to. After the court announced his punishment, Tarrant accepted it.
