Victims, survivors and loved ones have continued to deliver moving victim impact statements at the Christchurch High Court. Video / Chris Tarpey
GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING: THIS STORY CONTAINS DETAILS WHICH READERS MIGHT FIND UPSETTING
Victims, survivors and loved ones have continued to deliver moving victim impact statements in the High Court at Christchurch today. Here are some of the statements shared during day three of the four-day sentencing which will tomorrow seeBrenton Tarrant jailed for life.
Sara Qasem
Sara Qasem gives her victim impact statement during the sentencing hearing for Australian Brenton Harrison Tarrant. Photo / AP
Sara Qasem said her father Abdelfattah Qasem, 60, died a hero after being shot in the head during the Al Noor rampage.
The schoolteacher demanded Tarrant knew her father's name, repeatedly saying his name, and challenging that he paid attention.
In an emotionally-charged, heartbreaking victim impact statement, the court heard how the slaying of Qasem, an IT specialist originally from Palestine who had studied in Canada and the United States, had devastated his family.
Sarah remembered a "shining, glimmering man", a sweet, devoted father who never missed a Friday prayer.
"My Dad added value to this nation … I want to hear his voice. I want to hear my Dad's voice – my Baba's voice."
And when the shooting started, and he realised he survived the first attack, he stayed to help his brothers.
He died a martyr, she said, "putting others before himself" as he always did.
"This should not have happened. You made a choice here. A conscious, stupid, irresponsible, cold-blooded, selfish, disgusting, heinous, evil choice."
Tarrant blinked rapidly as Sara Qasem didn't hold back.
"I am uncertain there will be enough justice for what has happened at the hands of a terrorist – that's you," she said.
"However, I know one thing for sure - this monster who murdered my father, and the other beautiful souls that day in March, is a coward. That would be a familiar term to you. Those that fight with guns – cowards. You know you're not strong. You know you're weak. Look at yourself."
She urged the terrorist to take a look around the courtroom and ask himself: "Who exactly is the other here, right now? Is it us? Or is it you? I think the answer's pretty clear."
Sazada Akhter
Sazada Akhter. Photo / Pool
Sazada Akhter sat in her wheelchair and cried as her harrowing victim impact statement was read to the court.
The 26-year-old revealed how she was planning to have a baby when the heavily-armed Tarrant stormed the Al Noor Mosque on Deans Ave.
From the women's prayer room, she heard gunfire and ran outside.
"I was running away from him and he shot me," she said.
"Multiply that by 51," he said, also referring to Tarrant's mother Sharon.
Tarrant showed no emotion.
"You texted your mother before the attack … that shows how selfish you are," Khan said.
"You will go down in history as the man who has brought shame to the Tarrant family.
"You will forever be known as a failed terrorist … but did not [have] success in spreading your ideology."
John Milne
John Milne holds a photograph of his son, Sayyad Milne, during his victim impact statement. Photo / AP
Grieving father John Milne took three photographs of his slain 14-year-old son Sayyad Milne into the courtroom – and wanted the judge, and the killer who he referred to in court by his Christian name, to keep copies.
He has had multiple surgeries and still suffers pain – both physically and mentally.
"You are a coward, and you will be in hell," he said to Tarrant.
Rahimi Bin Ahmad
Nor Abd Wahib and her husband Rahimi Bin Ahmad give their victim impact statement. Photo / AP
Rahimi Bin Ahmad, a 40-year old service technician who was shot and badly wounded at Al Noor, was led into the courtroom in a wheelchair. He was at Friday prayer with his 10-year-old son.
"I was shot through my right side and lower back below my stomach … the shrapnel scattered throughout my lower back," he said in a statement, which was read to the court.
"I spent seven days unconscious in ICU and when I woke up I was paralysed. I wondered if I would ever walk again and at one time I thought they might need to amputate my right leg.
