Christchurch: Brenton Tarrant – 29, who was responsible for deadly Christchurch mosque attack has pleaded guilty for 51 murders.
Brenton Tarrant has also admitted the attempted murder of another 40 people and one terrorism charge. Earlier he had denied all the charges.
On March 15, last year, New Zealand witnessed its worst mass shooting incident claiming the lives of 51 people when the shooter, Brenton Tarrant, opened fire on Muslims attending Friday prayers in two mosques namely Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern issued a statement saying, “The guilty plea will provide some relief to the many people whose lives were shattered by what happened on March 15.”
The court will sentence Tarrant on all 92 charges, however, no specific date has been announced so far.
New Zealand is now in a month-long lockdown to curb the spread of the coronavirus and the hearing took place with minimal staff, lawyers and media in the Christchurch High Court. No members of the public were allowed in to the hearing and Tarrant, from New South Wales, Australia, and his lawyers appeared via video link.
