An Oslo court will announce whether mass killer Anders Breivik is sane on Friday morning.
The Norwegian right-wing extremist’s guilt is not in question - he admits killing 77 people during a July 2011 rampage.
According to a survey by Norwegian broadcaster NRK, the majority of people in the country think Breivik, 33, should be found sane.
He has said being found insane would be “worse than death.”
Whatever ruling the judges give regarding Breivik's mental health, the killer is expected to see out the rest of his days at the high security but humanitarian Ila Prison, reports the Australian, at an annual cost to the Norwegian taxpayer of up to £1.7m.
Ellen Bjercke, senior adviser at Illa Prison, said they were preparing for him to possibly spend the rest of his life in the institution either as a prisoner or patient.
"I think the loss of liberty is the major punishment regardless of what sort of conditions you have lost your liberty under," she said.
Bjercke said many think an open prison is the "hardest place to serve."
The governor of Ila prison, Knut Bjarkeid, said in a statement: "We are ready to receive Mr Behring Breivik if he is sentenced to preventive detention (prison) and also if he is sentenced to compulsory psychiatric care.