New Zealand Court Denies Bid by Mosque Mass Shooter to Appeal Conviction

A court in New Zealand has rejected an appeal by Brenton Tarrant, the gunman behind the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks, ruling that his attempt to withdraw guilty pleas lacked merit and effectively ends all challenges to his convictions .

Tarrant, 35, carried out the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks , killing 51 Muslim worshippers and injuring dozens more. In March 2020, he pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder, and one terrorism charge , avoiding a trial that authorities feared could amplify extremist propaganda.

In a strongly worded ruling, the Court of Appeal dismissed his claims that harsh prison conditions , including prolonged isolation, and poor mental health forced him to plead guilty. Judges found no evidence of any mental impairment , concluding he made an informed and rational decision and had tried to mislead the court.

The bench also stressed that the appeal was filed 505 days after the legal deadline , with no convincing explanation. During a February hearing, Tarrant attempted to abandon the appeal after arguments concluded, but judges refused, citing significant public interest and the need for a final determination.

However, the court allowed him to withdraw a separate appeal against his sentence. He continues to serve life imprisonment without parole , the harshest penalty under New Zealand law.

The ruling reaffirmed the overwhelming evidence against him, including self-recorded footage and a manifesto published before the attack. A separate coronial inquiry into the attacks remains ongoing.