Shock, relief, tears after NZ terrorist enters surprise guilty plea
Cantabrians have described their shock and relief to learn of the Christchurch terrorist’s decision to change his pleas to guilty.
On Thursday morning, Australian man Brenton Tarrant plead guilty to 92 charges ā 51 of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of terrorism ā in a hearing of the New Zealand High Court in Christchurch.
His decision will spare an already traumatised community of the need to re-live those horrific events inĀ a six-week trial this winter.
Tony Green, of the Al Noor mosque, said the sudden decision caught his community by surprise.
āThere has been a mighty flurry of WhatsApp messages and theĀ overriding quality through all of those is of enormous relief,ā he told AAP.
āMany tears. And that speaks to the kind of anguish that continues to run through the community.ā
Green said the long-running judicial process added to the trauma suffered in the March 2019 mosque attacks.
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āThe protracted nature, being held in suspension by the court process, that has exacerbated the grief,ā he said.
āThere will be now a welling of emotions,Ā driven by relief as people try once again to make sense of a new state.ā
Aliya Danzeisen, of the Islamic Womenās Council, on Twitter said it was āa blessing families donāt have to go through trialā.
Omar Nabi, who lost his father Haji Daoud Nabi as he prayed at Al Noor Mosque, welcomed the change of heart.
āItās about time. His plea should have been earlier but itās good heās changed his mind. And good to have it done,ā he told the NZ Herald.
āThere shouldnāt have been a trial anyway ā¦ he was caught red-handed, it speaks for itself.
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āGod will give him his own punishment. Just like on earth, you are punished, and when you die your soul will be tried.ā
Police Commissioner Mike Bush said the news came as a welcome surprise.
āTodayās guilty pleas are a significant milestone in respect of one of our darkest days,ā he said.
āI want to acknowledge the victims, their families and the community of Christchurch ā the many lives that were changed forever.
āThey have inspired all of us to be a kind and more tolerant community.ā
Bush also acknowledged police and crown solicitors that had worked on what he called āNew Zealandās largest-ever criminal prosecutionā.
Victim Support chief executive Kevin Tso said survivors still faced a lengthy road to recovery.
āOur support is ongoing for hundreds of victims who still need help to cope with the trauma of the event and with rebuilding their lives,ā he said.
āThey have our utmost respect and promise that we will be here for them for as long as they need us.ā
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