Christchurch massacre: life imprisonment for Brenton Tarrant

Australian Brenton Tarrant was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of release on August 27 for killing 51 people in two mosques in the city of Christchurch in March 2019. John Kirk-Anderson / Pool via REUTERS

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The trial of terrorist Brenton Tarrant, perpetrator of the attacks against the Christchurch mosques, in March 2019, ended Thursday after three days of hearing on a final verdict: life imprisonment without the possibility of release. 

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with our correspondent in Wellington, Richard Tindiller  

The worst killer in New Zealand history  " is how Mark Zarifeh, the Christchurch high court prosecutor, called Brenton Tarrant, the author of the attacks on Christchurch mosques.

The 29-year-old Australian, found guilty of killing 51 people, all from the Muslim community, on March 15, 2019, was today sentenced to life imprisonment with no possibility of release.  

A first in the history of New Zealand which condemns such a terrorist act. During the verdict, Judge Cameron Mander told the convict: “You have shown no mercy ... There is no doubt that you have come to New Zealand to target the Muslim community. The judge then concluded with these words: "There is no place for it in this country ... there is no place for it anywhere in the world."

New Zealand justice is now wondering if it should keep such a detainee who could cost society up to several million dollars. An exchange with an Australian prisoner has already been mentioned, so that the author of the worst massacre in New Zealand serves his sentence in Australia, his country of origin. 

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  • Justice
  • Racism
  • New Zealand

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