Brenton Harrison Tarrant wanted to burn down the two Christchurch mosques after the March 15, 2019 terror attacks where he murdered 51 people. Video / Chris Tarpey
A crowd is gathering outside Christchurch's courthouse, with the beginning of the landmark sentencing of the mosque killer just hours away.
There is no doubt 29-year-old Australian national Brenton Tarrant will be sentenced to life imprisonment after pleading guilty to 51 counts of murder, 40 of attempted murder and a charge under the Terrorism Suppression Act, but the major question is whether it is life without parole.
That decision falls to Justice Cameron Mander - however, it will likely be several days before he formally passes sentence.
Roads are closed off around the Christchurch Law Courts, and there's a heavy police presence at the scene. Photo / Amber Allott
Armed police have manned the perimeter of the Christchurch justice precinct since the weekend and road closures have been in effect as authorities gear up for the case. Snipers are stationed on the courthouse rooftop.
A police dog handler and his colleagues patrol outside the Christchurch High Court as family and survivors from the March 2019 Christchurch mosque shootings arrive for the sentencing. Photo / AP
As part of the security measures there are rigorous identity-checking protocols for those wishing to enter the building and queues are already forming.
Today's proceedings will begin with the reading of the summary of facts - the first time the document has been made public.
Police have positioned snipers on the roof of the courthouse. Photo / Amber Allott
It has been well documented that on March 15 last year, Tarrant drove from his home in Dunedin to Al Noor Mosque where he killed 42 people before driving across town to Linwood Islamic Centre to murder nine more.
But it is unknown how much further detail will be provided.
The bulk of the sentencing - which is expected to last at least three days - will be made up of the 66 victim impact statements from survivors and the family of those who died.
Some will say their piece in court in front of the gunman, others have been recorded on video and some will be read aloud by lawyers.
Family and survivors arrive outside the High Court at Christchurch. Photo / AP
Once the statements have concluded, Crown prosecutor Mark Zarifeh will make submissions on the sentence.
Alongside the length of that sentence, the other great unknown is how Tarrant will respond during the hearing.
Self-represented since dismissing his Auckland-based counsel Shane Tait, the defendant will have the opportunity to address Justice Mander, with the assistance of standby counsel should he need it.
Police snipers on the courthouse roof. Photo / Amber Allott
While there have been fears that Tarrant could use the platform as an opportunity to grandstand his extremist views, the judge has the power to remove him from the courtroom and can conduct the sentencing in his absence if he chooses.
No live reporting of sentencing
There will be no live reporting of the sentencing and it's expected there will be delays, as reporting is only permitted after the midday break and at the end of the day.
People can expect not to see any report republishing the livestream of the massacre or associated manifesto as both have been deemed objectionable by the Chief Censor.
