The man who murdered 51 people at two mosques in New Zealand's worst mass shooting, planned to attack a third location and burn down the Muslim places of worship afterward, prosecutors said at his sentencing hearing on Monday at the Christchurch High Court.
Brenton Tarrant, a 29-year-old Australian citizen, pleaded guilty in March to 51 charges of murder, 40 charges of attempted murder and one charge of committing a terrorist act. He faces life imprisonment with no possibility of parole.
On March 15, 2019, Tarrant entered the Al Noor and Linwood mosques in central Christchurch and opened fire using high-powered, military-style semi-automatic firearms, according to the statement of facts read to the court by prosecutor Barnaby Hawes.
The court, presided over by High Court Justice Cameron Mander, heard Tarrant spent months planning his attacks, including flying a drone over the Al Noor mosque and analyzing building layouts to identify likely escape routes that victims might use.
Tarrant deliberately timed the shooting to coincide with Friday prayers to ensure the maximum number of worshippers would be present, according to the prosecutor. He also planned to attack and set fire to a third mosque with four petrol containers found in his car, but was intercepted by police and arrested.
During police questioning, Tarrant described his actions as "terror attacks" and said they were intended to instill fear in the Muslim and, more generally, non-European immigrant population, the prosecutor said.
The sentencing hearing is expected to last at least four days, and will largely consist of the reading of victim impact statements by more than 60 people.
Due to social-distancing measures put in place following a resurgence of the coronavirus in New Zealand, many survivors, family members and media watched the hearing remotely, either in overflow courtrooms or from overseas via video conferencing.
Many of the victims told the court they immigrated to New Zealand, saying they chose the country because of its reputation as a safe place to live. Following the attacks, survivors said they continue to suffer from physical injuries and are taking medication for anxiety, depression or sleeplessness.
Many have been financially impacted, either having lost the family's primary breadwinner or being unable to work due to their injuries.
"I don't go to mosques much as I am scared," said Taj Mohammad Kamran, who was at the Al Noor mosque, and lost his best friend in the shooting.
Victims were divided over their feelings toward the terrorist, with some saying they had forgiven him, like Janna Ezat, whose son Hussein Al-Umari was killed in the attacks.
"I don't have hate, I don't have revenge," she said. "Damage was done, and Hussein will never be here, so I have only one choice, to forgive you."
Gamal Fouda, Imam of the Al Noor Mosque, told the court in his impact statement that in addition to his trauma, the shooting has affected the "spiritual wellbeing and faith" of the mosque's community, whose members continue to worship inside the building where 44 people were killed and 35 injured.
"The actions of the terrorist have changed Christchurch and New Zealand...but I love New Zealand, and our society showed their love and support for us," Fouda said.
"This response to our community was the opposite of what the terrorist had wanted."
In court, Tarrant sat calmly, dressed in grey prison clothing, and surrounded by corrections officers. He looked directly at individuals providing victim impact statements and remained emotionless.
The 29-year-old, who was being held in a correctional facility in Auckland, chose to represent himself and will have the opportunity to speak before sentencing.
The mandatory penalty for murder in New Zealand is life in prison. While a minimum period of imprisonment exists, the judge may order a sentence of life without the possibility of release. Such a sentence has never been imposed in New Zealand.
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