Headlines
New Zealand to hear Christchurch mosque shooter's appeal against sentence
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 8, 2026
2 min readLast updated: February 8, 2026
Quick Summary
Brenton Tarrant, the Christchurch mosque shooter, begins his appeal against a life sentence, challenging New Zealand's historic ruling.
Christchurch Mosque Shooter Begins Appeal Against Life Sentence
Appeal Hearing Details
By Stefica Nicol Bikes and James Redmayne
Background of the Case
SYDNEY, Feb 8 (Reuters) - A white supremacist who killed 51 Muslim worshippers and injured dozens at two mosques in New Zealand will begin an appeal hearing against his sentence on Monday.
Impact on New Zealand's Gun Laws
Brenton Tarrant, 35, opened fire on two mosques in Christchurch in March 2019, in the worst mass shooting in the country's history.
He was convicted of 51 charges of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one charge of committing a terrorist act and is serving a life sentence in prison without parole.
It was the first time a New Zealand court had sentenced a person to prison for the rest of their life.
Tarrant, an Australian national, released a racist manifesto shortly before storming the mosques armed with military-style semi-automatics, indiscriminately shooting at Muslims gathered for Friday prayers and livestreaming the killings on Facebook using a head-mounted camera.
New Zealand's worst peacetime killing shocked the country and prompted the government to quickly tighten gun laws.
(Reporting by Stefica Bikes and James Redmayne in Sydney; Editing by Alasdair Pal and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Key Takeaways
- •Brenton Tarrant begins appeal against life sentence.
- •Tarrant was convicted for the Christchurch mosque attacks.
- •The appeal challenges New Zealand's historic ruling.
- •The attack led to significant changes in NZ gun laws.
- •The case has drawn international attention.
Frequently Asked Questions about New Zealand to hear Christchurch mosque shooter's appeal against sentence
1What is a life sentence?
A life sentence is a prison term where the convicted individual is sentenced to spend the rest of their life in prison without the possibility of parole.
2What is a mass shooting?
A mass shooting is an event in which multiple people are shot, typically in a public place, often resulting in fatalities and injuries.
3What are gun laws?
Gun laws are regulations that govern the manufacture, sale, transfer, possession, and use of firearms and ammunition.
