Connect with us

International

New Zealand mosque gunman pleads not guilty to charges

Published

on

New Zealand: Mass murderer Tarrant shows no regrets, to represent self in court

The suspected gunman in the New Zealand mosque killing, Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant pleaded not guilty to all charges when he appeared in the Christchurch High Court on Friday.

Previously charged with 50 counts of murder and 39 of attempted murder, 28-year-old Tarrant faced an amended charge of murder on Friday following the death of Turkish national Zekeriya Tuyan, 46, on May 2.

He also faced two additional charges of attempted murder and a charge of engaging in a terrorist act under the Terrorism Suppression Act of 2002, developed in the global fallout after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Read also: Israel considers taking over east Jerusalem- Report

He is the first person to be charged under the country’s anti-terrorism legislation.

Justice Cameron Mander said mental-health assessments by the prosecutors and defense showed Tarrant to be fit to stand trial. His trial will begin May 4, 2020.

According to Aljazeera, Defense attorney Shane Tait indicated they may seek a change of venue for the trial, which is expected to take more than six weeks.

 

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now