Photo: RNZThe Christchurch terrorist made almost 700 complaints about life behind bars but his claims of torturous prison conditions are exaggerated, a court has heard. Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant made the 686 complaints from 16 March 2019 until September 2024, amounting to more than one complaint every three days. The terrorist initially pleaded not guilty in June 2019 to 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one of committing terrorism. Crown solicitor Andrea Ewing told the court only four of the terrorist's 686 complaints related to accessing a lawyer. The terrorist's lawyers reiterated the conditions their client was confined in were unlike anything else present in the prison system.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 13, 2026 11:04 UTC