The mass shooter who killed 51 people at two New Zealand mosques in 2019 is expected to appeal his convictions because he feels he was under duress when he pleaded guilty, a report said.
Brenton Tarrant recently provided his lawyer, Tony Ellis, with a 15-page description of the alleged mistreatment the murderer said he experienced while in custody for the unthinkable massacre at the mosques in Christchurch, Stuff.co.nz reported.
Ellis outlined Tarrant’s allegations in a memorandum that he sent last week to the chief coroner, Judge Deborah Marshall, the report said.
“[Tarrant] means he was subject to inhuman or degrading treatment whilst on remand, which prevented a fair trial,” Eillis wrote in the memo.
The lawyer said all New Zealanders by law are entitled to be treated fairly with dignity and respect.
The judge said Tarrant is welcome to address the issue at a separate hearing next month related to a coroner’s inquiry.
Tarrant was imprisoned for life without parole after pleading guilty in March 2020 to 51 charges of murder, 40 attempted murder charges and engaging in a terrorist act.
The mass killer is the only person in New Zealand to be designated the status of terrorist.
With Post wires