SYDNEY (AUSTRALIA) – Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday that he was willing to discuss with his New Zealand counterpart whether the Christchurch mass killer should serve his prison sentence in his home country. Australian national Brenton Tarrant was awarded life imprisonment sans parole this week by a New Zealand court for the mosque shootings.
Although New Zealand deputy prime minister Winston Peters hinted that Tarrant could be sent to Australia, Morrison said he was yet to receive a formal request from New Zealand.
“We’ll have an open discussion and look at the issues around this,” Morrison said, adding that the views of the families of the victims also need to be taken into consideration.
“I know all Australians and all New Zealanders would want to see this character locked up forever and never see the light of day again. And I agree with that. Whether he’s held in New Zealand or Australia.”
Both countries have close visa arrangements but they are yet to have a prisoner transfer deal.
According to government estimates, special security measures for Tarrant are expected to cost taxpayers NZ$3.6 million ($2.4 million) over two years or nearly NZ$5,000 a day.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field.