New Zealand mosque gunman ‘pleased with terrorism charge’, appeal court told

Brenton Tarrant appeared before the court by video from Auckland Prison (New Zealand Court of Appeal via AP)

The white supremacist who murdered 51 Muslims in New Zealand’s deadliest mass shooting was pleased to be charged with terrorism, his former lawyer has told a court deciding if the man was in a fit state to admit his crimes.

Brenton Tarrant, 35, was sentenced to life in prison without a chance of parole after pleading guilty to terrorism, murder and attempted murder for his massacre of worshippers including children at two Christchurch mosques during Friday prayers in 2019.