Mosque gunman sacks lawyers
Sentencing date confirmed for August 24
The Christchurch mosques gunman has sacked his legal team in a shock move just a month out from next month’s sentencing — and has now vowed to represent himself.
Australian national Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 29, entered guilty pleas to all 51 murder charges at a hastily-arranged High Court hearing in Christchurch on March 26 — the first day of the nationwide Covid19 alert level 4 lockdown.
Along with the murders, the gunman has been convicted on all charges, including 40 counts of attempted murder relating to the two attacks at Masjid Al Noor and Linwood Islamic Centre on March 15 last year — and pleaded guilty to one charge of engaging in a terrorist act laid under the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002.
His sentencing has been delayed by the global coronavirus pandemic, but last week it was confirmed that it would begin on August 24 in the city his terror attack took place — and the hearing could last three or more days.
Yesterday morning, in the High Court at Christchurch in front of some shooting survivors, family liaison representatives and senior detectives, the sentencing date was formally confirmed.
And his defence team, Auckland-based lawyers Shane Tait and Jonathan Hudson who have appeared for Tarrant since his second court appearance on April 5 last year, applied for permission to withdraw as the gunman’s counsel.
They said they had received instructions from Tarrant to withdraw as his lawyers because he wishes to exercise his right to represent himself at sentencing.
At a pre-trial callover yesterday morning, Justice Cameron
Mander checked with Tarrant — who appeared via audio visual link — that he wanted to represent himself.
After the judge was satisfied that Tarrant understood his rights to have legal representation — and that he wished to waive those rights — Justice Mander approved the move.
The judge said it would not affect the sentencing of the gunman, which will proceed on August 24.
However, given that the mosque shooter now wants to represent himself, Justice Mander said he would appoint a new lawyer in the role of standby counsel.
The judge explained that standby counsel would be able to assist Tarrant during the court process — if he wants it. They will also be on standby to help if he later decides he does wish to be legally represented.
The outcome of yesterday’s hearing was delayed by an hour so victims and family members could be updated.
Tarrant was remanded in custody until August 24, when sentencing will begin and the Crown’s summary of facts will be read out.
Justice Mander has called for a pre-sentence report and victim impact statements.
The Ministry of Justice, alongside the courts, has been working to put in place “technology options”, including a livestreaming link, to help victims who are overseas and unable to travel to view the sentencing and read victim impact statements remotely.
On Friday, it was revealed that overseas-based victims of the mosque shootings will receive special border passes to fly into New Zealand and witness the gunman’s sentencing.
The Government said it will extend the border exception criteria to help some offshore victims and support people to attend the sentencing.
“We want to support our valued Muslim brothers and sisters who were directly affected by this tragic event and understand that some who are now offshore do want to attend the sentencing,” said Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway.
“We have quickly established a process to allow victims and a family member or support person to come to New Zealand using new humanitarian grounds.”
With New Zealand’s borders closed to everyone other than citizens and residents, Justice Mander said there had been extensive efforts to “assess potential steps to assist victims and family members” currently overseas to travel here to attend the sentencing.
It was also announced last week that a one-off extension to the Victim Assistance Scheme will financially support more victims of the attacks to travel to attend sentencing.
The extension enables all victims who were present in the mosques to be eligible for contributions towards travelrelated costs, rather than just being restricted to those who suffered gunshot injuries, and the families of the deceased.
“This one-off exception recognises the unprecedented nature of the attacks and the trauma on all victims who were present. Sentencing is an important part of our justice process,” said the Ministry of Justice’s chief operating officer Carl Crafar.
Victim Support, which administers the Victim Assistance Scheme, welcomed the move.