Christchurch mosque shooter claims guilty plea obtained under duress, expected to appeal

Imam says killer is grandstanding' and should not be allowed to re-traumatise New Zealanders

The Christchurch mosque terrorist has filed complaints alleging that his treatment in New Zealand custody - including the refusal to refer to him by name - constituted a violation of his human rights, and that his guilty pleas were obtained under duress.

Brenton Tarrant, an Australian white supremacist who murdered 51 people in an attack on two Christchurch mosques in March 2019, said via a memorandum from his lawyer Dr Tony Ellis that his guilty pleas were obtained under duress due to mistreatment in custody. He was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole in August 2020. Ellis told local media outlets that he expected the gunman, Tarrant, to file an appeal against his convictions.