Christchurch Shooter Asks Court To Vacate Guilty Pleas
Court of Appeal hears five days of evidence starting Feb. 9, 2025, after Brenton Tarrant said prison conditions forced his guilty pleas.
Overview
Brenton Tarrant, 35, asked the Court of Appeal in Wellington on Feb. 9, 2025, to vacate his March 2020 guilty pleas to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one terrorism charge, according to court documents.
If the appeals court allows vacatur the case would return to the High Court for a trial, potentially undoing the convictions from the March 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks that killed 51 people, records show.
Crown lawyer Barnaby Hawes told the court there is little documentary evidence of serious mental illness, while Tarrant said solitary confinement and limited contact caused "nervous exhaustion," statements heard under tight security.
Tarrant pleaded guilty in March 2020 to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one terrorism charge and was sentenced in August 2020 to life imprisonment without parole, records show.
The court scheduled five days of evidence and said it will issue a later decision; if pleas are vacated the High Court would schedule a trial, court filings show.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story around victims’ voices and civic condemnation, emphasizing moral wrong and the shooter's perceived desire for publicity. Editorial choices — selecting emotive refugee context, victim quotations, and the PM’s line about "no notoriety" — prioritize victims’ perspectives while treating the appeal as an attention-seeking legal gambit.
Sources (3)
FAQ
Brenton Tarrant is seeking to vacate his 2020 guilty pleas to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder, and one terrorism charge, claiming solitary confinement and prison conditions caused 'nervous exhaustion' and irrationality.
On March 15, 2019, Brenton Tarrant, a white supremacist, attacked two mosques in Christchurch, killing 51 worshippers and injuring others in New Zealand's deadliest mass shooting.
The Court of Appeal in Wellington began a five-day hearing on February 9, 2026, with Tarrant testifying via audio-visual link; judges will reserve their decision for later.
Crown lawyer Barnaby Hawes stated there is little documentary evidence of serious mental illness, Tarrant's lawyers raised no concerns about his fitness, and he had options like delaying trial or proceeding to trial.
If the Court of Appeal vacates the guilty pleas, the case returns to the High Court for a trial on the charges from the 2019 attacks.
History
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