Context:

Brenton Tarrant, the gunman responsible for the Christchurch mosque shootings that killed 51 people in 2019, is seeking to overturn his guilty plea during a court appearance this week. Serving a life sentence without parole, Tarrant argues that he was unable to make rational decisions at the time of his plea due to harsh prison conditions. The case is set to be heard in New Zealand’s Court of Appeal, where a decision to allow the withdrawal could lead to a new trial on all charges. This appeal comes as victims' families are forced to confront their trauma anew, with one relative expressing concern over Tarrant's motivations for reopening wounds. If the appeal is denied, a subsequent hearing will address his sentence later this year.

Dive Deeper:

• Tarrant's initial denial of charges changed to a guilty plea a year after the attack, which included one count of terrorism.

• The attack on Al Noor mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre prompted New Zealand to implement stricter gun laws, including a ban on military-style semi-automatic weapons.

• Aya al-Umari, who lost her brother in the attack, voiced her frustration over Tarrant's appeal, indicating it forces victims to relive traumatic experiences.

• Since the sentencing in August 2020, former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern emphasized that Tarrant would have no notoriety or platform to influence others.

• If the appeal judges allow Tarrant to retract his guilty plea, it could lead to a trial, otherwise, a hearing for his sentence appeal is scheduled for later in the year.

• Tarrant's planning for the attacks reportedly began after his move to New Zealand in 2017, during which he became active on extremist online forums.

• Before the attack, Tarrant published a 74-page manifesto outlining his extremist views and intentions.