New Zealand mosque gunman Brenton Harrison Tarrant has told a judge he will not speak in his defence at his sentencing hearing for the mass shooting of worshippers in Christchurch.
Tarrant had the opportunity to speak on the final day of a hearing which has seen 90 survivors and family members talk about the pain of the March 2019 attacks at two mosques in the city, which left 51 people dead.
The killer had earlier sacked his legal team but was appointed a standby lawyer at the high court in Christchurch.
Philip Hall, the standby counsel, told judge Justice Cameron Mander that he would make a brief statement on Tarrant’s behalf.
Tarrant confirmed to Justice Mander that he did not wish to speak. The 29-year-old Australian has pleaded guilty to murder, attempted murder and terrorism for carrying out the attacks in March 2019.
Many of the victims and family members who have spoken at the hearing have asked the judge to impose the maximum possible penalty life without the possibility of parole.
Earlier on Wednesday, a woman speaking about her beloved father brought many people in the courtroom to tears.
Sara Qasem said she wonders if, in his last moments, her father was frightened or in pain, and wishes she could have been there to hold his hand.
She told the gunman to remember her father’s name: Abdelfattah Qasem. Ms Qasem said: All a daughter ever wants is her dad. I want to go on more road trips with him. I want to smell his garden-sourced cooking. His cologne.
I want to hear him tell me more about the olive trees in Palestine. I want to hear his voice. My dad’s voice. My baba’s voice.