Trial opens for Norwegian mass murderer

The trial of Norwegian Anders Breivik for the murder of 77 people began on Monday. The defendant admitted that he committed the murders. However, he also said that he did not acknowledge guilt. Trial opens for Norwegian mass murderer "I admit I did it, but I do not recognize the criminal liability. I say that everything I did was in self-defense," said Breivik in a packed courtroom in Oslo. Breivik, who last year detonated a bomb in the center of Oslo and killed eight, and then went on to murder another 69 people, mostly teenagers in a political party camp on the island of Utoja, also declared that he did not recognize the authority of the Norwegian court. The trial comes amid concerns that Breivik will be able to use the procedure to display his radical views. The defense has prepared a list of 29 witnesses, ranging from Islamists to extreme right wingers. The media report that they plan to provide Breivik with a chance to present his views on the world. "I do not recognize Norwegian courts. You get your mandate from political parties that support multiculturalism. I do not recognize the authority of this court," said Breivik, who added that he believes the trial was "political" because the judge is a good friend of the country's former minister of justice . The prosecutor read the indictment and the names of all those killed and injured in the attack, stating all the details of their injuries. This took more than an hour, and according to journalists in the courtroom today, Breivik listened with an "emotionless, icy expression on his face". However, he failed to keep his emotions in check when a propaganda video that he made was played, prompting him to "shed a tear". The trial should last ten weeks. If found guilty, the defendant could be sent to jail for up to 21 years - a prison term that can subsequently be extended. After Breivik admitted his responsibility for the July 2011 attacks, explaining that they were "necessary for the protection of Norway so that it would not be occupied by Muslims", the key question that remains unexplained is his mental health, reported the Associated Press. The 33-year-old Norwegian was declared mentally incompetent at one point, when mandatory psychiatric treatment was recommended, but later a second examination found him to be "mentally competent" to be sent to prison. The AP reports that it was now up to the District Court in Oslo to decide which of these diagnoses was most valid. Parts of the trial will be shown on television, but it was decided that Breivik's testimony, which should last about five days, will be closed to the public. "He regrets only that he did not go further. It is difficult to understand, but I say this only to prepare the public for his testimony," his defense lawyer was quoted as saying before the trial opened on Monday. Anders Breivik in the courtroom on Monday (Tanjug) Tanjug

Trial opens for Norwegian mass murderer

"I admit I did it, but I do not recognize the criminal liability. I say that everything I did was in self-defense," said Breivik in a packed courtroom in Oslo.

Breivik, who last year detonated a bomb in the center of Oslo and killed eight, and then went on to murder another 69 people, mostly teenagers in a political party camp on the island of Utoja, also declared that he did not recognize the authority of the Norwegian court.

The trial comes amid concerns that Breivik will be able to use the procedure to display his radical views. The defense has prepared a list of 29 witnesses, ranging from Islamists to extreme right wingers. The media report that they plan to provide Breivik with a chance to present his views on the world.

"I do not recognize Norwegian courts. You get your mandate from political parties that support multiculturalism. I do not recognize the authority of this court," said Breivik, who added that he believes the trial was "political" because the judge is a good friend of the country's former minister of justice .

The prosecutor read the indictment and the names of all those killed and injured in the attack, stating all the details of their injuries. This took more than an hour, and according to journalists in the courtroom today, Breivik listened with an "emotionless, icy expression on his face".

However, he failed to keep his emotions in check when a propaganda video that he made was played, prompting him to "shed a tear".

The trial should last ten weeks. If found guilty, the defendant could be sent to jail for up to 21 years - a prison term that can subsequently be extended.

After Breivik admitted his responsibility for the July 2011 attacks, explaining that they were "necessary for the protection of Norway so that it would not be occupied by Muslims", the key question that remains unexplained is his mental health, reported the Associated Press.

The 33-year-old Norwegian was declared mentally incompetent at one point, when mandatory psychiatric treatment was recommended, but later a second examination found him to be "mentally competent" to be sent to prison.

The AP reports that it was now up to the District Court in Oslo to decide which of these diagnoses was most valid.

Parts of the trial will be shown on television, but it was decided that Breivik's testimony, which should last about five days, will be closed to the public.

"He regrets only that he did not go further. It is difficult to understand, but I say this only to prepare the public for his testimony," his defense lawyer was quoted as saying before the trial opened on Monday.