The man who killed more than 50 people when he opened fire in two New Zealand mosques was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Judge Cameron Mander levied the maximum available sentence to Australian gunman Brenton Harrison Tarrant, 29, on Thursday, according to Politico. He had pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder, and one charge of terrorism.
“Your actions were inhuman,” the judge said. “You deliberately killed a 3-year-old infant as he clung to the leg of his father.”
On March 15, 2019, Tarrant entered a mosque in New Zealand while heavily armed after Jumu’ah, a significant Islamic prayer during the week. Over the course of a few minutes, he opened fire, killing 42 people. He then exited the mosque and began shooting at others outside, killing an additional seven people. Another victim died in the hospital shortly after the shooting. The 51st victim died 48 days after the attack.
The gunman livestreamed the attack and posted a more than 70-page screed that advocated for white nationalism. The graphic and disturbing video, which he shared on social media, shows Tarrant traveling to and arriving at the mosque, taking out weapons, and firing at people both inside and outside the building before leaving the scene.
The family members of victims and survivors of the deadliest attack in the country’s history were able to share their stories during the four-day sentencing hearing.
