Norwegian mass murderer Breivik insane, could avoid jail

Court-appointed psychiatrists have concluded that Norwegian [caption id=“attachment_143616” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“A handout passport picture taken in 2009 and released by police in Oslo on October 28, 2011 shows Anders Behring Breivik. Reuters”] [/caption] anti-immigration militant Anders Behring Breivik, who killed 77 people in July, is criminally insane, prosecutor Svein Holden said on Tuesday. Prosecutors added that the psychiatric evaluation may mean Breivik could not be sent to jail. “The conclusion is … is that he is insane,” Holden told a news conference. “He lives in his own delusional universe and his thoughts and acts are governed by this universe.” If the court accepts the psychiatrists’ conclusions, the anti-immigration militant could be held as long as he poses a threat to society and may be released if found to be healthy. Norwegian courts can challenge psychiatric evaluations or order new tests but it is rare for them to reject such a professional opinion. If the evaluation is upheld, Breivik would not be put on criminal trial but would face a court hearing to rule on his criminal insanity and the length of his commitment to a psychiatric institution. Breivik could then face similar hearings periodically to determine if he needs to remain committed, and could be held for life if he remained a threat. Holden said Breivik had developed paranoid schizophrenia and was psychotic at the time of the attacks, and that his condition was persisting. Earlier in the month Breivik spoke in open court for the first time and admitted killing 77 people in attacks in July, but he denied any guilt, saying he was a military commander in a far-right resistance movement. Reuters