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Anders Breivik Trial: Calls For Lay Judge To Leave Panel Over Death Penalty Comments

The Huffington Post UK  |  By Posted: 17/04/2012 08:29 Updated: 17/04/2012 09:08

Anders Breivik's evidence to court about why he massacred 77 people last July has been delayed after it emerged one of the lay judges, Thomas Indrebo, had called for the 33-year-old to face the death penalty.

The Norwegian killer smiled as the court's judge raised concerns over the impartiality of Indrebo, who wrote on Facebook days after the attacks last year that Breivik should get the death penalty.

"The death penalty is the only just sentence in this case!!!!!!!!!!" the message read.

The court was adjourned for 30 minutes as judges held an emergency meeting over what action should be taken.


Fredrik Walløe
Judges are to make a decision on whether the lay judge should be replaced; court with reconvene in 30 minutes.

The judge returned saying the comments would "weaken the trust in his impartiality" and dismissed him as a lay judge.

"Mr Indebro did not state that he had given such impressions will weaken the case in his impartiality. Mr Indebro shall be dismissed as a lay judge," she said.

Breivik pleaded not guilty to the twin attacks on Monday, saying he acknowledged the bombing and massacre but carried them out because of "self defence."

The 33-year-old made a far-right salute as he arrived at the Oslo courtroom, and interrupted proceedings to say that he does not recognise the Norwegian court.


Breivik sipped water as horrific details of his mass killings were read out in court

Breivik showed no emotion as a court read out gruesome details of the 77 people he murdered - but a 12 minute propaganda film outlining his beliefs caused the self-confessed killer to weep.

Wearing a dark suit and metallic-coloured tie, he looked down and touched his chin as the gruesome details of their deaths were read out.


He told the judge: "I do not recognise the Norwegian courts"

Some of the details of the murders and injuries were so horrific the Norwegian media bleeped them out.


The killer wipes away a tear as the court sees his propaganda video

He also displayed no emotion when he was played a tape of a 22-year-old Renate Taarnes's terrified phone call to police during the Utoya attack, where she whispered: "He's coming! He's coming."

Overall 102 names, dates of births and details of those Breivik killed and injures were read in court over 30 minutes.

At court yesterday Breivik's defence lawyer Geir Lippestad said evidence from the killer would be crucial "for the court to decide on an independent basis whether he is legally sane and can be punished or not."

He said Breivik wished to be sentenced as a sane person, stressing: "The defendant's wish is to be sentenced as a legally sane person. So our evidence will support that claim."

BLOG: Inside the Mind of Anders Breivik - The Norwegian on Trial for Mass Murder

PROFILE: 21st Century Crusader Battling Against Islam In Europe

MORE DETAILS: Killer Is Not Lawyer Geir Lippestad's First Unpopular Client

One of the survivors of the massacre Jorid Nordmelan, who will hear Breivik testify, said the trial was unprecedented.

"It's a historical date for Norwegians," she told the BBC. "We never had a trial like this, so we don't know what's going to happen.


Armed police walk in the street outside the Oslo district courtroom

"Prosecutors told me they were going to make the opening statements awful, so that people can just feel what he did right there."

He is due to give evidence for five days, explaining why he set off a bomb in Oslo, killing eight, before gunning down 69 people, mostly teenagers, at a Labour Party youth camp on Utoya island, outside the Norwegian capital.


The police van with terror charged Anders Behring Breivik leaves the Ila prison in Baerum, Norway

Since Breivik has confessed to the July 22 attacks - claiming they were necessary to protect Norway from being taken over by Muslims - the key issue that remains unresolved is his mental health.

Breivik attempted to justify his views in a 1,500-page manifesto published on the internet before the atrocities.


Prosecutors showed images of Breivik taken from his manifesto. A badge on the uniform read "Marxist Hunter"

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Anders Breivik's evidence to court about why he massacred 77 people last July has been delayed after it emerged one of the lay judges, Thomas Indrebo, had called for the 33-year-old to face the death ...
Anders Breivik's evidence to court about why he massacred 77 people last July has been delayed after it emerged one of the lay judges, Thomas Indrebo, had called for the 33-year-old to face the death ...
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If Anders Behring Breivik is found to be mentally competent, the toughest sentence Norwegian law can mete out is 21 years, though he may still remain incarcerated if he is deemed to be a a danger to society. Breivik may be walking the streets by the time he's 55.

 
 
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Nigeljames
0 Fans
11:13 AM on 04/17/2012
This trail is a total waste of money. Take him out the back and put him down.
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cleggt
20 Fans
10:10 AM on 04/17/2012
Totally agree with the lay judge
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britscot
33 Fans
09:54 AM on 04/17/2012
This mass killer deserves nothing less than to be executed by a firing squad. Unfortunately the Norwegians are a part of the Scandinavian Namby Pamby way of life, and as such will make sure that this fiend has his human rights well protected. It's a safe bet however that he will be killed in prison by someone seeking notoriety, and a place in history for the deed.
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