Norway mass killer demands medal at court hearing
OSLO, Norway — The right-wing extremist who has admitted killing 77 people in the worst peacetime massacre that Norway has ever seen told a court Monday that he deserves a medal of honor for the bloodshed and demanded to be set free.
Anders Behring Breivik smirked as he was led in to the Oslo district court, handcuffed and dressed in a dark suit, for his last scheduled detention hearing before the trial starts in April. He stretched out his arms in what his lawyer Geir Lippestad said was "some kind of right-wing extremist greeting."
Reading from prepared remarks, the 32-year-old Norwegian told the court that the July 22 massacre — carried out with a bomb, a rifle and a handgun — was a strike against "traitors" he said are embracing immigration to promote "an Islamic colonization of Norway."
Like in previous hearings, Breivik admitted to setting off the bomb outside the government headquarters in Oslo and opening fire at a Labor Party youth camp on Utoya island, outside the capital, but denied criminal responsibility and rejected the authority of the court.
About 100 survivors and relatives of victims watched in disbelief, as Breivik asked to be released, and told the judge he should receive a military honor for Norway's most deadly peacetime attacks.
Judge Wenche Gjelsten ordered him to remain in custody until the trial begins on April 16. Breivik faces terror charges, which carry up to 21 years in prison. However, if he's deemed gravely mentally ill he will be sent to psychiatric care.
"It wasn't good that he got to say what he wanted to say," said Amel Baltic, a 16-year-old survivor of the Utoya massacre. "It made me irritated."
Many survivors have expressed concern that Breivik will use court hearings to draw attention to his extremist views.
A psychiatric evaluation found Breivik criminally insane, but a second evaluation was ordered amid criticism against that diagnosis. Breivik has refused to cooperate with psychiatrists in the second review.
Unlike the only previous public hearing, Breivik this time agreed to let himself be photographed before the proceedings began. Lippestad, the defense lawyer, suggested Breivik's remarks on Monday foreshadowed what's to come in the trial.
"It's a preparation for the trial. Much of this case is about his personality," Lippestad said.
Breivik claims he's a commander of a militant organization aiming to overthrow European governments and replace them with "patriotic" regimes that would deport Muslim immigrants.
Police have not found any trace of this supposed network of "Knights Templar" and say Breivik carried out the attacks on his own.
Yup, this dude is nuttier than the family size jar of Jif peanut butter.
Oh, by the way, there is no documentation in the article that he says it was done in the name of Christianity. That must really upset some folks here. All I can say is, sorry....
ST762
