A terrorist who killed 51 worshippers last year in New Zealand's deadliest shooting will be sentenced on Thursday, after three days of emotionally charged statements from his victims in court.
Brenton Tarrant, a white supremacist, told the court in Christchurch on Wednesday that he will not speak ahead of Justice Cameron Mander handing down his sentence, but will instead make a comment through a court-appointed lawyer.
The decision eased some concerns that the gunman, who had elected to defend himself, would use his submission in court to talk about his extremist ideology.
Victims and relatives wait to enter the Christchurch High Court for the final day in the sentencing hearing for the Australian gunman. Source: AAP
The gunman initially pleaded not guilty to all charges against him but later admitted to 51 charges of murder, 40 counts of attempted murder and one charge of committing a terrorist act during the 2019 shooting rampage at two Christchurch mosques, which he livestreamed on Facebook.
A murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. The judge can impose a life term without parole, a sentence that has never been used in New Zealand.
The gunman was largely emotionless through the last three days as more than 90 victims gave harrowing accounts of the attack and its traumatic impact on their lives.
The grieving victims rejected the gunman's white supremacist world view and urged the court to impose the toughest possible sentence.
Victims have told AAP they have found power and strength in giving their statements, but equally some are tired after an emotionally exhausting week.
"He doesn't have the guts (to speak) after being told over and over again what kind of man he is," one told AAP.
"He is defeated. He doesn't want to see eye-to-eye his victims any more. Hate has been silenced."
Another said of the gunman's withdrawal, "we would like to have the last word and thanks to him we will".
Prosecutors have told the court that the shooter wanted to instil fear in those he described as invaders and that he carefully planned the attacks to cause maximum carnage.
Additional reporting by AAP.
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