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Last updated:April 16, 2012 11:43 am
Breivik refuses to recognise Oslo court
The Norwegian who has admitted taking 77 lives in a terrorist bombing and shooting spree in July gave a fascist-style salute and refused to recognise the court at the start of his trial on Monday.
However, victims of the atrocity expressed satisfaction with the first day of Anders Behring Breivik’s trial for homicide and terrorism.
Tore Sinding Bekkedal, a Labour youth politician who survived the massacre at the Utøya summer camp, said he had worried about the “media circus” surrounding the trial. But he summed up the first day as “relievingly dignified”. Some 1,400 journalists from around the world have been accredited by the Oslo district court.
The accused looked nervous but exhilarated when he appeared in the courtroom. Once handcuffs were removed, he performed a salute by taking his right fist to his heart before extending the arm.
After the presiding judge, Wenche Elizabeth Arntzen, offered Mr Breivik the opportunity to speak, the accused said he did not recognise the court, “because its mandate derives from parties that support multiculturalism, and because you [Ms Arntzen] are a friend of Hanne Harlem, sister of Gro Harlem Brundtland”, the former Labour prime minister of Norway.
His lawyer explained later that Mr Breivik thought he should be tried by a military tribunal.
Mr Breivik stared down while the prosecution read the indictment, including the name of each person killed and the manner of their death in Oslo and on the island of Utøya. Mr Breivik acknowledged the actions but pleaded not guilty to terror and murder charges, saying he was acting in self-defence.
The accused, who otherwise rarely betrayed emotion, shocked the audience by weeping in court as the state prosecutor, Svein Holden, screened a 12-minute ideological slideshow that Mr Breivik had uploaded to the internet just hours before he carried out his attacks. He smiled and chatted with his lawyers when the court adjourned shortly afterward.
One of the most gripping moments of the day came when Mr Holden played a recording of a girl’s emergency call to the police while she was hiding from Mr Breivik in a toilet.
“I’m so scared” she could be heard whispering, as loud shots sounded in the background.
The prosecutor also played two calls Mr Breivik made to the police to surrender, neither of which seems to have been followed up.
Controversy has marked the preparations for the trial. In dispute is whether Mr Breivik was psychotic at the time of the act, as a first psychiatric evaluation concluded. If the court agrees, the law would rule out a criminal conviction but Mr Breivik could be sentenced to compulsory psychiatric care.
A second evaluation made a different diagnosis, which would permit a criminal sentence of a jail term of up to 21 years or indefinite detention.
Mr Holden said prosecutors had not decided whether to demand a criminal conviction. His co-prosecutor, Inga Bejer Engh, suggested that they will not present proofs for or against an insanity defence, but let the evidence “cast light from all sides”.
Lawyers for the victims said most of their clients would prefer a criminal conviction to be reassured of a sufficient punishment. They were worried that if the court found Mr Breivik to be psychotic, there was a chance that he would be let out once he was cured. Legal professionals said this was unlikely but Mr Breivik’s case would come up for regular review.
Mr Breivik himself wants to be judged as legally competent. He pleaded not guilty and instructed his lawyers to demand that he be set free because he acted on a “principle of necessity”.
Many Norwegians are angry that Mr Breivik can use the proceedings as a way to put forward his extreme anti-Muslim views. His lawyer has warned that Mr Breivik may say he regrets “not having gone further”.
The accused is due to start testifying on Tuesday. He has requested permission from the court to read out prepared remarks for the first 30 minutes.
However, victims of the atrocity expressed satisfaction with the first day of Anders Behring Breivik’s trial for homicide and terrorism.
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The accused looked nervous but exhilarated when he appeared in the courtroom. Once handcuffs were removed, he performed a salute by taking his right fist to his heart before extending the arm.
After the presiding judge, Wenche Elizabeth Arntzen, offered Mr Breivik the opportunity to speak, the accused said he did not recognise the court, “because its mandate derives from parties that support multiculturalism, and because you [Ms Arntzen] are a friend of Hanne Harlem, sister of Gro Harlem Brundtland”, the former Labour prime minister of Norway.
His lawyer explained later that Mr Breivik thought he should be tried by a military tribunal.
Mr Breivik stared down while the prosecution read the indictment, including the name of each person killed and the manner of their death in Oslo and on the island of Utøya. Mr Breivik acknowledged the actions but pleaded not guilty to terror and murder charges, saying he was acting in self-defence.
The accused, who otherwise rarely betrayed emotion, shocked the audience by weeping in court as the state prosecutor, Svein Holden, screened a 12-minute ideological slideshow that Mr Breivik had uploaded to the internet just hours before he carried out his attacks. He smiled and chatted with his lawyers when the court adjourned shortly afterward.
One of the most gripping moments of the day came when Mr Holden played a recording of a girl’s emergency call to the police while she was hiding from Mr Breivik in a toilet.
“I’m so scared” she could be heard whispering, as loud shots sounded in the background.
The prosecutor also played two calls Mr Breivik made to the police to surrender, neither of which seems to have been followed up.
Controversy has marked the preparations for the trial. In dispute is whether Mr Breivik was psychotic at the time of the act, as a first psychiatric evaluation concluded. If the court agrees, the law would rule out a criminal conviction but Mr Breivik could be sentenced to compulsory psychiatric care.
A second evaluation made a different diagnosis, which would permit a criminal sentence of a jail term of up to 21 years or indefinite detention.
Mr Holden said prosecutors had not decided whether to demand a criminal conviction. His co-prosecutor, Inga Bejer Engh, suggested that they will not present proofs for or against an insanity defence, but let the evidence “cast light from all sides”.
Lawyers for the victims said most of their clients would prefer a criminal conviction to be reassured of a sufficient punishment. They were worried that if the court found Mr Breivik to be psychotic, there was a chance that he would be let out once he was cured. Legal professionals said this was unlikely but Mr Breivik’s case would come up for regular review.
Mr Breivik himself wants to be judged as legally competent. He pleaded not guilty and instructed his lawyers to demand that he be set free because he acted on a “principle of necessity”.
Many Norwegians are angry that Mr Breivik can use the proceedings as a way to put forward his extreme anti-Muslim views. His lawyer has warned that Mr Breivik may say he regrets “not having gone further”.
The accused is due to start testifying on Tuesday. He has requested permission from the court to read out prepared remarks for the first 30 minutes.
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