CHRISTCHURCH MOSQUE GUNMAN FIRES LAWYERS
Brenton Tarrat, the self-confessed New Zealand mass shooter who gunned down 51 worshippers at a mosque in Christchurch in 2019, has fired his lawyers.
Tarrat gunned down a total of 51 people who attended Friday prayers at two different mosques on 15 March 2019. His lawyers were originally appointed to defend him in April 2019.
During a High Court session in Christchurch on Monday, his lawyers asked for permission to withdraw as they were instructed to do so by Tarrat, who has chosen to defend himself.
Tarrat appeared via video link from a jail in Auckland. Some of the survivors were present at the High Court in Christchurch.
In March, Tarrant pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder, and one count of terrorism. His sentencing was due to start in June but was delayed due to COVID-19. His sentencing is now scheduled for the 24th of August and is expected to last three days. The date was confirmed on Monday.
The weapons used by the gunman during the mass shooting prompted government to pass a law banning most semi-automatic weapons.
The attack was described as “one of New Zealand’s darkest days” by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Watch the video clip by Indus.news for more.
Image credit: NYTimes