The Australian gunman who carried out the March 2019 Christchurch mosque attacks has been sentenced to life without parole, the first time a whole life term has been handed down in New Zealand.
Brenton Tarrant pleaded guilty to 51 charges of murder, 40 counts of manslaughter and one charge of terrorism in March this year.
Handing down sentence in the Christchurch High Court today, Justice Cameron Mander said Tarrant had shown cruelty and callous indifference in carrying out his ideologically driven crimes.
Justice Mander said the gunman appeared entirely self-absorbed, and neither contrite nor ashamed.
The Australian waived his right to make any sentencing submissions, but instructed a standby lawyer to tell the court that he did not oppose a sentence of life without parole.
He showed no emotion as the sentence was handed down.
Survivors of the shooting, as well as the relatives of victims, had addressed the court during the four-day hearing.
