Brenton Tarrant loses appeal bid in Christchurch mosque shootings
New Zealand's Court of Appeal has rejected an attempt by Brenton Tarrant to withdraw his guilty pleas for the 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks.
Tarrant, who shot and killed 51 Muslims and injured dozens more, claimed harsh prison conditions led to his involuntary admission of guilt.
The court dismissed his appeal, noting it was filed 505 days past the deadline and that the evidence against him was overwhelming.
Judges found his mental illness claims inconsistent and unsupported by professionals.
Tarrant is serving a life sentence without parole.
The judges on Thursday also allowed him to abandon his appeal of his sentence.
That appeal had been scheduled to be heard later this year.
Tarrant loses conviction appeal
- Christchurch gunman fails in bid to appeal against guilty pleas by New Zealand court The Guardian —
- Man who killed 51 in New Zealand mosque attacks loses bid to abandon his guilty pleas The Independent —
- New Zealand court denies bid by mosque mass shooter to appeal conviction Al Jazeera —
- New Zealand court rejects appeal by mosque gunman to abandon guilty pleas The Argus —
- New Zealand appeals court rejects bid by Brenton Tarrant to withdraw his guilty pleas for Christchurch mosque shootings ABC News —