The New York Times
Originally published on June 22, 2012
The trial of Anders Behring Breivik ended on Friday with an unusual reversal of roles, as defense lawyers insisted that he was sane when he killed 77 people last year and should be sentenced to prison, and prosecutors arguing that he was mentally ill and thus not criminally responsible, and should be hospitalized instead.
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Members of the defense team, in tears themselves as parents spoke about their slain children, evoked Mr. Breivik’s human rights in their conclusion that he should be held accountable for his crimes. Mr. Breivik has admitted to the killings but said they were committed in self-defense to combat what he has called the “Islamic colonization” of Europe. He has argued that an insanity judgment would detract from his cause.
“The defendant has a radical political project,” Mr. Lippestad said. “To make his acts something pathological and sick deprives him of his right to take responsibility for his own actions.”
