Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, 29, admitted to the murder of 51 people, attempted murder of another 40 people and one charge of terrorism, at two mosques, last year in March, was sentenced to life in prison without parole by a New Zealand court. The judge called his actions “inhuman”. “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. The Judge spent almost an hour reminding Tarrant of each person he killed and injured. New Zealand does not have the death penalty as part of its justice system.
“Today I hope is the last where we have any cause to hear or utter the name of the terrorist,” Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said after the terrorist was sentenced. Tarant had earlier also refused the right to speak at his sentencing and had no reaction to the sentence. During this week’s sentencing, the court heard that the gunman planned to target another mosque but was detained by officers on the way. He was active on fringe online forums and posted a 74 page “manifesto” online prior to his attack. Tarant showed little-to-no emotion during the four-day hearing where 91 survivors and relatives of the victims described the pain.
