A court in New Zealand has sentenced a self-confessed white supremacist, who killed 51 Muslims as they prayed at two mosques in Christchurch, to life imprisonment without parole, 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 charges of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one charge of committing a terrorist act during the March 2019 rampage in the southern city, which he livestreamed on Facebook.
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In delivering the sentence, High Court Judge Cameron Mander said on Thursday that a finite term was insufficient for such a crime and that Tarrant had shown no remorse.
“Your crimes are so wicked that even if you are detained until you die it will not exhaust the requirements of punishment and denunciation,” Mander said.
“As far as I can discern, you are empty of any empathy for your victims.”
Prosecutors told the court at the opening of the sentencing hearing on Monday that Tarrant had been planning the attacks for a long time and wanted to create fear among immigrants.
The killer had been representing himself and said through a lawyer in court on Thursday that he did not oppose the sentence.
Dressed in grey prison clothes and surrounded by guards, Tarrant did not react to the sentence.
‘Relief and justice’
Temel Atacocugu, who survived being shot nine times during the attack at the Al Noor mosque, said he felt relieved at the sentence.
“Finally we can breathe freely, and we feel secure, and my kids feel secure,” Atacocugu told The Associated Press news agency.
“The justice system has locked up this ideology forever.”
Gamal Fouda, the imam of Al Noor Mosque, said that “no punishment would bring our loved ones back”, but was proud of New Zealand’s response to extremism.
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 healed, but today I hope is the last where we have any cause to hear or utter the name of the terrorist behind it.
“His deserves to be a lifetime of complete and utter silence,” she said.
Scott Morrison, the prime minister of Australia, also welcomed Tarrant’s sentencing.
“Justice was today delivered to the terrorist and murderer for his cowardly and horrific crimes in Christchurch.
“It is right that we will never see or hear from him again,” said Morrison.
The March 2019 attacks shocked New Zealand and prompted new laws banning the deadliest types of semi-automatic weapons.
They also prompted global changes to social media protocols.
During the four-day sentencing hearing, 90 survivors and family members recounted the horror of the attacks and the trauma they continue to feel.
Some spoke to the gunman angrily, calling him a monster and a coward.
Some recited verses from the Quran or addressed him in Arabic.
A few spoke softly to Tarrant, saying they forgave him.
Sara Qasem spoke about her beloved father Abdelfattah, who was killed in the attacks.
“All a daughter ever wants is her dad.
“I want to go on more road trips with him.
“I want to smell his garden-sourced cooking. His cologne,” she said.
“I want to hear him tell me more about the olive trees in Palestine.
“I want to hear his voice. My dad’s voice. My Baba’s voice.”
Abdul Aziz, who chased the gunman from the Linwood mosque, said the sentence was “what he deserved to get and what we deserved to get. We can move on with our lives.”
And Haminah Tuyan, whose husband was killed by Tarrant, said she was “relieved and at peace” and was going home to pray.
Afghan refugee Taj Kamran, who was shot several times in the leg and still requires walking aids, leaned against a fence as he raised his arms in joy, saying “Tonight I will be able to sleep.
“I could not sleep after the shooting, I cried a lot,” he said.
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