Christchurch massacre: Brenton Tarrant pleads guilty to killing 51 people, wounding 49

Far-right terrorist Brenton Tarrant has admitted to killing 51 Muslim worshippers last year as they knelt in prayer.

Brenton Tarrant appears via video link in Christchurch. Picture: AP

Far-right terrorist Brenton Tarrant has admitted to killing 51 Muslim worshippers last year as they knelt in prayer, reversing his not-guilty plea in a move that has brought elation to survivors and relief to the gunman’s family.

Tarrant formally withdrew his not guilty plea in a specially convene­d hearing at Christchurch’s High Court on Thursday, ending fears the 29-year-old would use his trial as a platform to promulgate his extremist views.

Dressed in a grey prison sweatshirt, a gaunt-looking Tarrant appeare­d via video link from Auckland’s maximum-security Paremoremo prison.

People walk past flowers and tributes displayed in memory of the twin mosque massacre victims outside the Botanical Gardens in Christchurch in 2019. Picture: AFP

A court official ran through the lengthy murder indictment, reading aloud the name of every one of Tarrant’s 51 murder charges, a process that took two minutes.

When asked how he pleaded, Tarrant, who appeared to have lost considerable weight since his last appearance, offered two words: “Yes, guilty.’’

Tarrant was then asked how he pleaded to 40 counts of ­attempted murder and a single count of engaging in a terrorist act. He replied: “Guilty.’’

Tarrant’s lawyers, Shane Tait and Jonathon Hudson, appeare­d remotely from another courtroom.

Tarrant indicated earlier this week that he wanted to change his plea and both the crown and the defence agreed that the change of course be hastened.

This was despite nationwide lockdowns aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19, which prohibi­t ­large gatherings.

The Al Noor Mosque in Christchurch. Picture: AAP

Judge Cameron Mander said the guilty plea was a “significant step’’ towards bringing finality to Tarrant’s victims.

“I considered the need to take the opportunity to progress the matter was particularly acute, coming as it has at a time when the risk of further delay as a result of COVID-19 was looming as ­realistic possibility,’’ he said. When he was done, Judge ­Mander formally convicted Tarrant­ of all 92 offences. He ­suppressed news of the proceedings for an hour so survivors and ­victims’ families could be notified.

Tarrant killed 51 people in an attack on Christchurch’s Al Noor Mosque and the Linwood Islamic Centre on March 15 last year. He live-streamed the killings to Facebook using a helmet camera.

A child looks on as mourners carry the coffin of one of Brenton Tarrant’s victims. Picture: AP

He also published a lengthy manifesto attributing the violence to his anti-immigrant ideology.

Wednesday’s shock plea scotches fears that Tarrant planned to use his trial as a soapbox for his views, something the former personal­ trainer vowed to do in his 74-page manifesto published online before the attack.

Tarrant was scheduled to stand trial on June 2.

As recently as October, he ­appeared defiant about his crimes, yelling into a court microphone after the noise had been dimmed and flashing a white-power hand signal during an earlier court appearance.

Sources close to Tarrant have been saying for some time that he had been fraying.

Tarrant was impassive throughout the brief hearing, staring into the video-link monitor, his eyes occasionally dropping as the long roll call of victims was read aloud.

Janna Ezzat lost her son ­Hussein to Tarrant’s bullets. He was praying at the Al Noor Mosque when Tarrant opened fire during Friday prayers on March 15.

“I’ve been waiting for this news,’’ Ms Ezat told The Aust­ralian from her home in Christchurch, where she remains locked down with her family. “It’s the best day of this year. It is justice. I’m more than happy to see it.’’

Gregory Tarrant, Tarrant’s second cousin on his father’s side, said the plea was a good thing.

“I just feel that sense of relief for the families and friends of all those involved and the people of New Zealand that they don’t have to relive the horror,’’ he told The Australian. “I’m sure the rest of the family would feel that way.’’