Christchurch mosque shooter claims he pleaded guilty because of inhumane treatment in prison

Convicted Christchurch shooter Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 people, is now reportedly considering an appeal over his treatment in prison.

Convicted Christchurch mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant is reportedly considering an appeal, with his lawyer claiming he pleaded guilty to the murder of 51 people last year because of “inhumane” and “degrading” treatment from law enforcement.

As reported by Radio NZ, Tarrant’s lawyer, Dr Tony Ellis, has made the claim on his behalf in a memo to Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall ahead of a Coronial Inquiry into the mass killing.

Tarrant was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in August last year.

In the memo, Dr Ellis claimed the Australian was having important documents withheld from him by the Department of Corrections, and said the shooter also believed his right to a fair trial had been compromised.

He relayed that Tarrant had said his guilty pleas were obtained under “duress” and the conditions under which he pleaded needed to be taken into consideration.

Dr Ellis said that it could be a breach of the country’s Bill of Rights because Tarrant was “subject to inhumane or degrading treatment while on remand, which prevented a fair trial”.

“He sent me about 15 pages of narrative of how he had been treated since he‘d been in prison,” Dr Ellis said.

“He said because of how he was treated while he was awaiting trial and afterwards, [that affected] his will to carry on and he decided that the simplest way out was to plead guilty.

“By this, he means he was subject to inhuman or degrading treatment whilst on remand, which prevented a fair trial.”

In the memo, Dr Ellis also raised his lack of access to counsel, information and documentation which would impact his ability to participate in the Coronial Inquiry.

Christchurch mosque gunman Brenton Tarrant listens as Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh delivers his submission during his sentencing hearing at Christchurch High Court.

“As he is held in virtually 24-hour solitary confinement in the Persons of Exceptional Risk Unit, there are issues arising as to his receiving information, and he has only limited access to daily news.”

The Chief Coroner had written directly to the inmate informing him of her decision to hold a Coronial Inquiry, but those letters were not passed on, Dr Ellis said.

The attacker had also been sent two copies of the Royal Commission which were withheld from him by the department.

Without access to those documents, he advised his lawyer that he was unable to give detailed instructions ahead of any proceedings.

The memo also highlighted the Chief Coroner’s description of Tarrant as “the Invidivual”.

Dr Ellis argued this was a “serious breach of human rights” and the ”behaviour is deeply offensive, and unlawful” because Tarrant was no longer being treated as human.

The shooter’s lawyer, Dr Tony Ellis, said the Australian was having important documents withheld from him by the Department of Corrections, and the mosque shooter also believed his right to a fair trial was compromised.

“Tarrant is no longer a suspect, but a convicted criminal in detention; despite his horrific crimes that part of his legal life is over,” he wrote.

“He has been tried and sentenced and is entitled to be treated as a human.

“It is not the least bit dignified to be stripped of your name, it is an inherent part of your identity, and shows no respect for Mr Tarrant.”

-- with Charlotte Cook, NZ Herald