Christchurch shooter seeks to overturn guilty plea

Brenton Tarrant is serving a life sentence after murdering 51 people in the March 2019 attack on two mosques in New Zealand.

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Australian Brenton Tarrant is serving a life sentence with no parole after admitting to murdering the 51 people and attempting to murder another 40 in the March 2019 attack on worshippers during Friday prayers in Christchurch.

He initially denied the charges, but changed his plea a year after the attack.

The 35-year-old, who also admitted one count of terrorism, has now launched an appeal, filed out of time, arguing he was incapable of making rational decisions at the time because of "torturous and inhumane" conditions in prison.

He also wants to appeal against his sentence. The hearing at New Zealand's Court of Appeal in Wellington is scheduled to run all week, with Tarrant expected to give evidence via video link.

The massacre at Al Noor mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre - parts of which were live-streamed - led to stricter gun laws in New Zealand.

Victims and family members will be able to watch the hearing via a delayed broadcast.

Among those planning to attend is Aya al-Umari, who lost her older brother Hussein in the attack on Al Noor mosque.

"I very distinctly remember that I left court after the sentencing thinking 'Right, the trauma chapter is now closed, time to heal, time to focus on your own mental well-being', but then it pops up again and again," al-Umari told the BBC.

She said she was preparing for a tough week, seeing the man who murdered her brother on screen.

"It will be just an image that I am looking at, because he means absolutely nothing to me at this stage.

"I suspect one of his main motivations to do this is to open up traumas again and I won't let him succeed in doing that - he just wants his limelight and to be relevant again."

Hussein al-Umari was awarded a New Zealand Bravery Star, for standing up to Tarrant.

"He took the right of life of my brother and 50 others, and then we're going to sit through now and

Source: BBC

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