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Anders Breivik was challenging and aggressive child, court hears Anders Breivik was challenging and aggressive child, court hears
(about 4 hours later)
Norwegian social workers considered removing Anders Behring Breivik from his mother when he was four years old because she was unable to cope with his behaviour, described in court as challenging, clinging, hyperactive and aggressive.Norwegian social workers considered removing Anders Behring Breivik from his mother when he was four years old because she was unable to cope with his behaviour, described in court as challenging, clinging, hyperactive and aggressive.
The claim came as it emerged that for a brief period in the 1980s Breivik and his sister were taken away from his mother – who was separated from his father – and put into respite care at her request.The claim came as it emerged that for a brief period in the 1980s Breivik and his sister were taken away from his mother – who was separated from his father – and put into respite care at her request.
The evidence of social problems beginning in Breivik's childhood came in a detailed psychiatric assessment presented to the Oslo court where Breivik, 33, is on trial for the murder of 77 people in a bombing and shooting massacre in Norway last summer, including scores of young shot people at a political camp on the island of Utøya. The evidence of social problems beginning in Breivik's childhood came in a detailed psychiatric assessment presented to the Oslo court where Breivik, 33, is on trial for the murder of 77 people in a bombing and shooting massacre in Norway last summer, including scores of young people shot at a political camp on the island of Utøya.
The evidence was being given by two forensic psychiatrists, Torgeir Husby and Synne Sørheim, who controversially ruled that Breivik was suffering from "paranoid schizophrenia" when he carried out the murders.The evidence was being given by two forensic psychiatrists, Torgeir Husby and Synne Sørheim, who controversially ruled that Breivik was suffering from "paranoid schizophrenia" when he carried out the murders.
That ruling was later challenged by a second pair of court-appointed psychiatrists who examined him after a public outcry when the diagnosis was leaked. They will give evidence after Sørheim and Husby.That ruling was later challenged by a second pair of court-appointed psychiatrists who examined him after a public outcry when the diagnosis was leaked. They will give evidence after Sørheim and Husby.
Breivik's sanity – which the court will rule on – has become one of the key issues of the trial. A ruling of insanity would mean Breivik is remanded to hospital rather than held in prison for the murders, for which he has never denied being responsible.Breivik's sanity – which the court will rule on – has become one of the key issues of the trial. A ruling of insanity would mean Breivik is remanded to hospital rather than held in prison for the murders, for which he has never denied being responsible.
It also emerged that Breivik had spoken to his mother a week before the killings, telling her he had believed he had "become ugly" and was considering having both a face lift and his teeth fixed.It also emerged that Breivik had spoken to his mother a week before the killings, telling her he had believed he had "become ugly" and was considering having both a face lift and his teeth fixed.
The Oslo court that has been trying Breivik will hear evidence from both teams who examined Breivik to determine his sanity and whether he can be held accountable for his actions under Norway's penal code.The Oslo court that has been trying Breivik will hear evidence from both teams who examined Breivik to determine his sanity and whether he can be held accountable for his actions under Norway's penal code.
In evidence presented by the two psychiatrists the court heard that Brevik had been such a challenging child that social workers intervened several times when his mother said she could not cope with him. The assessment at the time suggested he was lacking in "spontaneity" and "elements of joy and pleasure" appearing to avoid emotional contact.In evidence presented by the two psychiatrists the court heard that Brevik had been such a challenging child that social workers intervened several times when his mother said she could not cope with him. The assessment at the time suggested he was lacking in "spontaneity" and "elements of joy and pleasure" appearing to avoid emotional contact.
The relationship later stabilised and he was allowed to remain with his mother.The relationship later stabilised and he was allowed to remain with his mother.
The details of Brevik's childhood problems emerged from analysis of 13 interviews with him conducted by Husby and Sørheim, who also examined 140 hours of police interviews, social welfare records, diary entries and the "manifesto" prepared by Breivik before the killings.The details of Brevik's childhood problems emerged from analysis of 13 interviews with him conducted by Husby and Sørheim, who also examined 140 hours of police interviews, social welfare records, diary entries and the "manifesto" prepared by Breivik before the killings.
Describing Breivik as "polite and co-operative" in their dealings with him in interviews at first conducted in the chapel at Ila prison, Husby and Sørheim who have been publicly criticised for their original ruling after it was leaked to the media, described their growing suspicions that Breivik was suffering "underlying delusions of grandeur", not least in his fixation with the Knights Templar organisation of which he claimed to be its Norwegian leader, "motivated by an unusual idea of his own importance".Describing Breivik as "polite and co-operative" in their dealings with him in interviews at first conducted in the chapel at Ila prison, Husby and Sørheim who have been publicly criticised for their original ruling after it was leaked to the media, described their growing suspicions that Breivik was suffering "underlying delusions of grandeur", not least in his fixation with the Knights Templar organisation of which he claimed to be its Norwegian leader, "motivated by an unusual idea of his own importance".
Referring to his manifesto or "compendium" laying out his political vision and organisation of the Knights Templar – the experts said they were surprised by how "childish" it appeared and "pathetically egotistical", hinting strongly that Breivik may have suffered a failing of his "intellectual and cognitive" abilities between 2000 and 2006.Referring to his manifesto or "compendium" laying out his political vision and organisation of the Knights Templar – the experts said they were surprised by how "childish" it appeared and "pathetically egotistical", hinting strongly that Breivik may have suffered a failing of his "intellectual and cognitive" abilities between 2000 and 2006.
Describing Breivik the two psychiatrists remarked both on his lack of remorse for his victims and also his tendency to "switch non-stop between various subjects" suggesting a mild associative disorder.Describing Breivik the two psychiatrists remarked both on his lack of remorse for his victims and also his tendency to "switch non-stop between various subjects" suggesting a mild associative disorder.
Husby pointed to elements of quasi-religious imagery or suggestion in Breivik's manifesto that suggested Breivik believed he was a "saviour" figure who could save Europe and Norway in particular from Islamists and multiculturalism.Husby pointed to elements of quasi-religious imagery or suggestion in Breivik's manifesto that suggested Breivik believed he was a "saviour" figure who could save Europe and Norway in particular from Islamists and multiculturalism.