Australian Brenton Tarrant, 29, admitted to the murder of 51 people, attempted murder of another 40 people and one charge of terrorism and has been given the strongest possible sentence in New Zealand justice.
The judge called Tarrant’s actions “inhuman”, saying he “showed no mercy”.
Tarrant’s sentencing also marks the first terrorism conviction in New Zealand’s history.
“Your crimes are so wicked that even if you are detained until you die, it will not exhaust the requirements of punishment,” said Judge Cameron Mander in a Christchurch court on Thursday.
On imposing a sentence of life without parole, Justice Mander said: “If not here, then when?”
A sentence without parole means the offender will not be given the opportunity to leave prison after serving only a portion of their total sentence.
Justice Mander said such life sentences without parole were reserved only for the “very worst murders”.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said in response to the sentencing it meant he would have “no notoriety, no platform… and we have no cause to think about him, to see him or to hear from him again”.
Unity News Network (UNN) Staff Writer | To find out more details about our staff, please head to the About Us section on our website.
