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Remembering New Zealand's 'darkest day'
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A visitor leaves the Al Noor mosque, one of the mosques where some 50 people were killed by a self-avowed white supremacist gunman on March 15, after mid-day prayers in Christchurch on April 5, 2019. (AFP/Sanka Vidanagama)
A
year ago on March 15 a heavily-armed Australian gunman went on a killing spree targeting New Zealand Muslims during their Friday prayers.
He opened fire at the Al Noor Mosque then continued shooting at the Linwood Islamic Center. Both are in Christchurch, the largest city in the South Island,
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern who led the nation in mourning following its “darkest day” has publicly sworn never to mention the far-right extremist’s name. This column will do the same.
In June he’ll face a New Zealand court. He’s charged with 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of engaging in a terrorist act.
The legal and journalistic convention is to report his “alleged” crimes. Although he live-streamed the massacres we have to say he’s innocent until proved otherwise. So far he’s pleaded “not guilty”.
There’s no death penalty in New Zealand, but if found guilty the 29-year old will probably die in jail of natural causes decades hence.
In 1996 a mass shooting in Port Arthur, Tasmania left 35 dead and 23 wounded. The killer pleaded guilty and was given a 35-year life sentence without possibility of parole. He’s now 52.
