Suspect in New Zealand mosque shootings unexpectedly pleads guilty to 51 murder charges

The reasons behind Tarran’s surprise move to switch his plea to guilty remain unclear; he had previously denied culpability and a trial had been scheduled to begin in June. The news broke as New Zealand began a nationwide lockdown, with all but essential businesses and public services closed to restrict the spread of coronavirus.

Appearing in Christchurch High Court on Thursday by video link from a prison in Auckland, Tarrant became the country’s first convicted terrorist. He appeared gaunt and emotionless as he listened to the court registrar read out the charges and the names of the dead before entering his plea. Two senior members of Christchurch’s Muslim community were present, though victims’ families and other survivors did not attend.

Tarrant, who could face life in prison, was remanded into custody by Judge Cameron Mander until May 1, by which time a date for the sentencing would be set. Tarrant’s lawyers did not respond to a request for comment.

The mosque attacks prompted New Zealand’s government to ban assault weapons, implement a buyback of existing firearms, and ramp up surveillance. The massacre also fueled questions about whether intelligence and security agencies had been sufficiently rigorous in monitoring far-right or white-supremacist networks.

Jamal Green, spokesman for Al Noor Mosque, which was targeted in the attacks, said he did not know in advance about Tarrant’s sudden decision to plead guilty. The reaction from the community was “one of relief and great surprise; tears of joy, even,” he said.

“It should be acknowledged however, that there will be a mix of emotions,” he added. “This is no easy joy or satisfaction. Every community that has been a victim of hate and loss will recognize a kind of emptiness when their world has suffered in this way.”

Mourners lay flowers on a wall at the Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, New Zealand, on March 16. (Vincent Thian/AP)

Graeme Edgeler, a Wellington-based lawyer and legal commentator, noted that a guilty plea, however belated, might open the possibility of a sentence with parole for Tarrant.

“In New Zealand, a person pleading guilty is usually entitled to a reduction in their sentence for the guilty plea, so there may be a hope that a guilty plea will mean there will only be a life sentence with a very long non-parole period, instead of a sentence of life without parole,” he said.

“The offending is so serious, however, that even with a guilty plea, a life without parole sentence must still be likely.”

Police said that arrangements for Thursday’s hearing were made hastily after Tarrant indicated through his lawyer on Tuesday that he wished to be brought before the court. “Police appreciate this news will come as a surprise to the victims and the public, some of whom may have wished to be present in the courtroom,” they said in a statement.

Omar Nabi, who lost his father, Haji Daoud Nabi, at Al Noor Mosque during the attacks, said that he felt relief on hearing the news, but added that “to be there, to see it unfold would have been a lot better” than finding out through the media. Still, he understood that this would not have been possible due to the pandemic lockdown. He plans to attend the sentencing.

Anjum Rahman, spokeswoman for New Zealand’s Islamic Women’s Council, said that while the guilty plea did not deliver closure, “the main thing is that we do not have to sit through a whole court case and hear a defense of atrocious acts.”

New Zealand has been conducting an official inquiry into the events surrounding the massacre, with state agencies such as police and intelligence services questioned about the circumstances leading to the atrocity. But much of the evidence had been subject to suppression orders to avoid jeopardizing Tarrant’s right to a fair trial.

With Tarrant’s guilty plea, Rahman called Thursday for the evidence given to the inquiry to be made public.

“Now that there isn’t a [trial] there isn’t a reason to suppress any evidence,” Rahman said.

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the guilty plea would “provide some relief to the many people whose lives were shattered by what happened on March 15.”