Survivors relieved at gunman’s change to guilty plea
In total, 51 people were killed in the worst mass shooting by an individual in New Zealand’s history.
Brenton Tarrant is the first person to be charged under the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002.
Omar Abdel-Ghany, whose father Ahmed Gamal Eldin AbdelGhany was killed at Masjid An-Nur, said he could not understand what caused Tarrant to change his plea.
‘‘I am both shocked and relieved. Shocked at the sudden change in plea, relieved that my family and I along with other victims won’t have to relive it all through the courts.’’
Muslim Association of Canterbury spokesman Tony Green said his immediate reaction was one of enormous relief.
‘‘I think the victims will feel a huge weight has been lifted from their shoulders. Our position has always been to let justice take its course but a trial would have put a lot of pressure on our families.
‘‘If you look at the anguish caused by the trial of Grace Millane’s killer, you can see how bad it would be for 51 families.’’
Mustafa Boztas, who lay on the ground inside the Masjid An-nur with a bullet in his leg, pretending to be dead, said from Turkey he always knew Tarrant would be found guilty.
‘‘I feel he basically played with our minds and emotionally upset us more for no reason.’’
Boztas said he would have stayed in New Zealand if he had known Tarrant was going to plead guilty. ‘‘While it cannot undo the damage it has brought upon our community and country, it gives me hope this will help bring not only justice but some closure to those touched by this event.
‘‘To the families, I hope this brings you peace and a sense that love can conquer hate. While this closes the criminal proceedings for the shootings, please know there is still a long way to go in recovery for some of us, so thank you for your continued support.’’
Yasir Amin, whose father
67-year-old Muhammad Amin Nasir was shot in the back by the gunman shooting from his car, said the guilty pleas were good news.
‘‘It is good to avoid a trial because we would be reminded of everything, every day of the sixweek trial. We have avoided that mental torture and we are not in a situation where the outcome is
100 per cent sure.’’
Nasir was to undergo another operation on Monday but the operation was postponed due to
Covid-19 measures. He spent two months in hospital after the shootings and had another 20-day stay in December.
‘‘He is now doing well. He goes for walks and eats well,’’ Amin said.
Just about every organ in his father’s body except his heart had been damaged by the shotgun pellets. Nasir was shot about
200 metres from the mosque in Deans Ave. The gunman drove past Amin and his father, who were walking to the mosque, when he aimed a shotgun at them from his car. Both ran for their lives but Nasir was shot.
Their plight was captured by a motel security camera.