Explosion in Oslo - govt. headquarters hit

Ubik

I can tell what you're getting at, but he's not really preaching any specific message. He's attacking specific aspects of religion that he sees to be irrational and/or hypocritical. He presents his case and leaves it for the listener or reader to decide for themselves, there's no threat of something bad happening to them if they don't agree. He's just presenting an argument to be weighed up, freely, in the minds of the audience.

But ho hum, I know he isn't to the taste of everyone, so live and let live

Saliph

New court meeting tomorrow. Breivik says he wants to explain why he did this, according to his lawyers.

forevrared

Hasn't he been desperate to do that since it happened? He just wants a platform to spew his xenophobic, racist psycho-babble.

Saliph

Indeed he has, but it's open court for the first time tomorrow.

Mihajlovic

Psychiatrists in Norway have submitted their assessment of whether Anders Behring Breivik was sane at the time he killed 77 people last July.

Their 230-page report - said to be based on 13 conversations with Breivik - was delivered to a court in Oslo. One of the psychiatrists said the report drew a "clear conclusion" of his mental state but did not give details. Breivik has admitted the attacks in Oslo and on Utoeya island, but has pleaded not guilty to terror charges. The 32-year-old is due to stand trial on 16 April.

If declared sane, he could face a maximum jail term of 21 years, which could be extended if he is still deemed a threat to society.

However, he could escape a prison sentence - and be detained in psychiatric care - if found to be mentally unfit.

His lawyer Geir Lippestad has said his client was probably "insane", although later said he regretted the expression preferring to say Breivik had "his own perception of reality".

Forensic psychologist Pal Grondahl said there are clear criteria to be met before someone can be considered criminally insane - and few qualify. "Statistically, 330 such forensic statements were issued last year. Four out of five of these ruled that the person was criminally sane. Only every fifth person is thus seen as criminally insane. So the bar is high."

BBC News - Norway massacre: Court given Breivik psychiatric report

The Telegraph reports that "Anders Behring Breivik 'not accountable for attacks'".

jrsenior

Feck, did not see that one coming. Declared insane/ psychotic.

RedLars

Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, apparently.

RedLars

I just realized that it's probably the worst thing that could've happened from his point of view. His noble crusade reduced to nothing more than a condition of an ill mind, slowly eradicating any memory of his cause in the minds of the many, until the only thing that's left are records of history where he will stand as nothing but an example of what mental illness can cause people to do.

The thought makes me glad.

rednev

I know that this ruling will anger and bewilder many, especially those outside Scandinavian countries, but people really need to understand what it means to be a paranoid schizophrenic. It's an illness that could strike any one of us, and nobody who has it chooses to hold their terrifying perception of the world during psychotic states. Some of the comments I've been reading elsewhere ['even if he is insane, he should still be punished!' etc] make me despair.

RedLars

In no way do I have any qualifications that would make me the proper judge of such things, so all I can do is rely on those who are qualified, and are entrusted with the responsibility of drawing these conclusions. That goes for all of us.

It's not hard to see why people react however. This is the most terrifying thing that has happened here in Norway since the second world war, and people are still shaken by it. They want to see justice served, and I suppose that's only rational to some extent.

I think what matters though, and most people will see and come to terms with this as time passes, is that we learn from this. We understand what causes someone to do something like this, to the fullest extent possible, so that we, as a society, can do whatever it takes to prevent it from happening again. Affected by emotions, most people will instinctively believe that swift and harsh punishment is the way to do that. It's not, understanding and working to prevent other people susceptible to falling into the same trap, the same line of thinking that can lead them to do something like this, is.

And while the rest of us are caught up with our emotions, we can only hope that those who lead the way are more rational. More pragmatic, and able to keep the right focus. The focus that will benefit our society as a whole in the long run, as opposed to the tiny and fleeting feeling of relief offered by punishing someone as harshly as the law allows.

I believe in our system. I believe that if they conclude that he his sick, and needs to be treated at a facility rather than a prison, that is the indeed the right thing. I believe that if one day he is deemed healthy, even if I can't see it happening, and allowed to walk the street without being considered a threat to anyone, then let him. And if it turns out to be the wrong call, then we'll try it all over again until we get it right. Because that is what our society is built upon, and it is the way forward. We need to have that faith in the system our society is built upon, or else it is all for nothing. If we decide that no, the rules only apply when they are easy to follow, then there's no purpose to it.

Just my $0.02.

Saliph

My thoughts exactly.

Saliph

Breivik in court today



Seems to relish the attention.