New Zealand Mosque Shooter Tarrant Claims ‘Irrationality’ in Guilty Plea Bid

New Zealand Mosque Shooter Claims Prison Conditions Caused ‘Irrational’ Guilty Plea

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Brenton Tarrant, the man convicted of killing 51 Muslim worshipers in New Zealand’s deadliest mass shooting, told an appeals court Monday that he felt compelled to admit to the crimes due to “irrationality” stemming from harsh prison conditions, as he seeks to have his guilty pleas overturned.

A panel of three judges at the Court of Appeal in Wellington will hear five days of evidence regarding Tarrant’s claim that he was not mentally fit to plead to the terrorism, murder, and attempted murder charges following the 2019 attack in Christchurch. If successful, the case would proceed to trial, something avoided when he pleaded guilty in March 2020.

Tarrant is also appealing his sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a sentence unprecedented in New Zealand legal history. His testimony Monday regarding his mental state at the time of his guilty plea marked the first time he has spoken publicly in a substantive way since livestreaming the 2019 massacre on Facebook.

Shooter Alleges “Nervous Exhaustion”

The Australian man, who self-identifies as a white supremacist, migrated to New Zealand with the intention of carrying out the meticulously planned massacre. He amassed a cache of semiautomatic weapons, took steps to avoid detection, and wrote a lengthy manifesto before driving from Dunedin to Christchurch in March 2019 and opening fire at two mosques.

The attack resulted in the deaths of 51 people, including a 3-year-old boy, and left dozens more severely wounded. The event is considered one of the darkest days in New Zealand’s history, prompting institutions to attempt to curb the spread of Tarrant’s message through legal orders and a ban on possession of his manifesto and the attack video.

Monday’s hearing was conducted under tight security, limiting access to Tarrant’s evidence to a select group including reporters and those directly impacted by the massacre. Tarrant, appearing via video link from Auckland Prison, wore a white button-down shirt, black-rimmed glasses, and had a shaved head.

During questioning by both Crown and defense lawyers, Tarrant, 35, stated that his mental health had deteriorated due to his prison conditions, which included solitary confinement with limited reading material and minimal contact with other prisoners. He claimed that by the time he pleaded guilty, he was suffering from “nervous exhaustion” and uncertainty about his identity and beliefs. He admitted to the crimes a few months before his scheduled trial, stating there was “little else I could do.”

Crown Challenges Tarrant’s Claims

Crown lawyer Barnaby Hawes questioned Tarrant, suggesting he had alternative options. Hawes pointed out that Tarrant could have requested a delay in the trial to assess his mental health or proceeded to trial and mounted a defense.

Hawes also noted a lack of evidence in documentation from mental health experts and prison staff indicating a serious mental health crisis. Tarrant responded that signs of mental illness may not have been recorded and that he had, at times, deliberately concealed them.

“I was definitely doing everything possible to come across as confident, assured, mentally well,” he told the court. He added that his behavior was influenced by the “political movement I’m a part of,” and he always sought to present the best possible image.

Tarrant acknowledged having access to legal counsel throughout the court process. His current legal team has been granted name suppression due to concerns for their safety.

Appeal Outcome Pending

Appeals of convictions or sentences in New Zealand must be filed within 20 working days. Tarrant’s appeal was submitted approximately two years late, in September 2022. He explained to the court Monday that the delay was due to a lack of access to necessary information.

The hearing is expected to continue throughout the week, but the judges’ decision is not expected immediately. If they reject Tarrant’s attempt to overturn his guilty pleas, a subsequent hearing will address his appeal of his sentence.