The man responsible for the 2019 Christchurch Mosque attacks, which claimed the lives of 51 Muslim worshippers, is set to initiate an appeal hearing. Brenton Tarrant, the Australian national behind the deadliest mass shooting in New Zealand’s history, is expected to provide testimony via video link, marking a rare public appearance since the attack.

Tarrant seeks to overturn his earlier guilty pleas to charges of 51 murders, 40 attempted murders, and one act of terrorism. He asserts that he was not in a rational mental state when he admitted guilt. The case continues to evoke deep sorrow and outrage, as the repercussions of his actions remain keenly felt within the affected communities.

In his appeal, Tarrant claims that he faced unlawful and inhumane prison conditions, which allegedly impacted his ability to make sound decisions at the time of entering his pleas. He is appealing for those pleas to be annulled and for a trial to proceed. Should that request be denied, he is asking for permission to contest his life sentence without parole. A resolution to this appeal process is anticipated to take several months.