The Australian gunman who murdered 51 people in the Christchurch mosque massacre in March 2019 has been sentenced to life without parole. 

This marks the first time in New Zealand’s history that a sentence of this gravity has been passed. The 29-year-old plead guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 attempted murders and one charge of terrorism.

Over a period of three days, 91 of the shooters victims read statements to him during court.

There was anxiety surrounding the sentencing hearing. With fears that the Australian man would use the session as an opportunity to espouse his anti-Islamic, extremist views.  However, the self-professed white supremacist told a judge on Wednesday that he did not intend to address the court himself. 

When handing down the sentence, Justice Cameron Mander said there was no period of imprisonment could sufficiently punish this crime.

“Your crimes are so wicked that even if you are detained until you die, it would not exhaust the requirements of punishment and denunciation,” he said.

“Your actions were inhumane … You showed no mercy. You are not only a murderer, but a terrorist. You sought to essentially attack New Zealand’s way of life.”

During the sentencing, Justice Mander read out the names of each of the terrorist’s victims. Running through all those that had been murdered by the terrorist, and the profound effect that their deaths had on their families.

This story is developing.

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