Christchurch, Aug 27 (TIWN) The gunman who killed 51 people at two mosques in New Zealand's Christchurch city in 2019 was sentenced to life in prison without parole, a court announced on Thursday.

Australian Brenton Tarrant, 29, admitted to the murder of 51 people, attempted murder of another 40 people and one charge of terrorism.

The judge called Tarrant's actions "inhuman", saying he "showed no mercy".

The attack last March, which was livestreamed, shocked the world.

Tarrant's sentencing also marks the first terrorism conviction in New Zealand's history.

"Your crimes are so wicked that even if you are detained until you die, it will not exhaust the requirements of punishment," said Judge Cameron Mander in a Christchurch court on Thursday.

On imposing a sentence of life without parole, Justice Mander said: "If not here, then when?"

A sentence without parole means the offender will not be given the opportunity to leave prison after serving only a portion of their total sentence.