By Tim Brown of RNZThe Court of Appeal will this week consider an application by the white supremacist who murdered 51 people in the Christchurch terror attacks to vacate his guilty pleas and stand trial. In March 2020 he pleaded guilty at the High Court to 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and one terrorism charge. If the court grants the application to vacate the pleas, the case will be sent back to the High Court for the terrorist to stand trial. If the court declines the application then a further hearing will consider the sentence appeal later this year. The application will be heard by Court of Appeal president Justice Christine French, Justice Susan Thomas and Justice David Collins.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 08, 2026 18:23 UTC