Girl, 4, who miraculously survived the Christchurch mosque massacre wants to face the shooter in court – so she can ask him one tragic question
A four-year-old girl who suffered brain damage in the horrific Chirstchurch mosque attack wants to face the shooter in court to ask him 'why?'
Brenton Tarrant murdered 51 people and injured dozens more in a brutal massacre at the Al-Noor Mosque and Linwood Islamic Centre on March 15 2019.
The 29-year-old Australian live-streamed his assault on New Zealand Muslim community members on Facebook and later pleaded guilty to his charges.
The young victim, who is now six and cannot be named to protect her identity, has expressed interest in facing the white supremacist in court.
Her father told Stuff she is recovering from her injuries and has started to regain memories of the horror assault.
Brenton Tarrant (pictured during his first court appearance on March 16, 2019) pleaded guilty to murdering 51 Muslims in the Christchurch mosque attack in March 2019
A man with bloodstains on his trousers meets with police and other survivors near the mosque after the shooting
'She remembers everything from that day. She just asked me, "Why did he hurt me?"' he said.
The girl spent three months recovering in hospital and struggles to walk properly as a result of her injuries.
Her father said he would inquire about whether she can read an impact statement to the shooter in court, as a vital part of her recovery.
'To show him we can stand in front of him. You’re nothing without the guns,' he said.
Psychologist Sara Chatwin said while children generally do not speak in court, the process could be valuable for the victim's rehabilitation.
'It may be that the child is able to do that in a way that lessens some of the angst that she suffered,' she said.
Tarrant (pictured in court via video link) published a manifesto which detailed how his actions in the assault were racially motivated
Tarrant pleaded guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 charges of attempted murder and a charge of engaging in a terrorist act and is expected to be jailed for life.
The terror charge against him was the first prosecution of its kind in New Zealand.
Tarrant first entered the Al Noor Mosque as Friday prayers were beginning and opened fire.
Worshipers scrambled as the shots rang out. Some managed to smash windows to escape, while others had to lay with the bloodied bodies and pretend to be dead.
Tarrant then drove to the Linwood Mosque on the other side of the city and continued shooting.
Two police officers managed to finally stop the shooter by ramming their car into his gold Subaru Outback.
A woman with flowers to offer as tribute for the victims of the attack at the Botanical Garden in Christchurch
The horrific terror attack in Christchurch, which left 51 worshipers dead, has been described as New Zealand's darkest day (Pictured: victims)
They dragged Tarrant out of the car, and he was arrested.
Inside the car were improvised explosive devices, which were later disarmed.
A 73-page manifesto was published detailing how his actions were racially motivated and how he was inspired by Norway mass killer Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 in 2011.
Tarrant, who describes himself as a far-right fascist, came to his radical views from conversations in dark corners on the internet, consolidated on trips to Europe.
He grew up in the northern New South Wales town of Grafton, moving to New Zealand in 2017 and settling in the South Island town of Dunedin.
Tarrant will remain in a maximum-security jail in Auckland ahead of his sentencing on August 24.
Girl, 4, who miraculously survived the Christchurch mosque massacre wants to face the shooter in court – so she can ask him one tragic question
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August 09, 2020
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