This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-18547347#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Defence lawyer argues Norway killer Breivik is sane Defence lawyer argues Norway killer Breivik is sane
(40 minutes later)
Anders Behring Breivik's defence have told his trial he should be considered sane and have sought his acquittal - a request regarded as a formality.Anders Behring Breivik's defence have told his trial he should be considered sane and have sought his acquittal - a request regarded as a formality.
Lawyer Geir Lippestad told the court in Norway his client had been driven by extreme politics, not violence.Lawyer Geir Lippestad told the court in Norway his client had been driven by extreme politics, not violence.
The prosecution has called for him to be considered insane.The prosecution has called for him to be considered insane.
Breivik, who admits he killed 77 people and injured 242 on 22 July, is due to address the court himself on the last scheduled day of the trial.Breivik, who admits he killed 77 people and injured 242 on 22 July, is due to address the court himself on the last scheduled day of the trial.
The request for acquittal is a formality because Breivik does not accept the charges of terrorism and premeditated murder against him.The request for acquittal is a formality because Breivik does not accept the charges of terrorism and premeditated murder against him.
He argues that his attacks were necessary to stop the "Islamisation" of Norway, an argument outlined by his defence on Friday.He argues that his attacks were necessary to stop the "Islamisation" of Norway, an argument outlined by his defence on Friday.
Breivik bombed government buildings in Oslo before shooting young Labour Party supporters at a camp on the island of Utoeya.Breivik bombed government buildings in Oslo before shooting young Labour Party supporters at a camp on the island of Utoeya.
Judges are due to deliver their verdict in July or August.
Memorials to Breivik's victims will be built at the two attack sites, the government announced on Friday.Memorials to Breivik's victims will be built at the two attack sites, the government announced on Friday.
Several people injured or bereaved by Breivik are also due to address the court on Friday. A support group for his victims is reported to be planning to walk out of the courtroom when Breivik speaks. His address to the court will not be broadcast.
A support group for his victims is reported to be planning to walk out of the courtroom when Breivik speaks. Friday morning's proceedings were carried live on television but cameras were withdrawn when the trial resumed after lunch to hear testimony from several people injured or bereaved by Breivik.
'Almost impossible''Almost impossible'
It was, Mr Lippestad stressed, for the court to decide whether his client had been sane at the time of the attacks.It was, Mr Lippestad stressed, for the court to decide whether his client had been sane at the time of the attacks.
"The mother of these actions is not violence, it is an extreme, radical, political attitude, and his actions must be perceived from the point of view of right-wing extremist culture," he said."The mother of these actions is not violence, it is an extreme, radical, political attitude, and his actions must be perceived from the point of view of right-wing extremist culture," he said.
The fact that "safe, little Norway would be hit by such a terror attack is almost impossible to understand", the lawyer said.The fact that "safe, little Norway would be hit by such a terror attack is almost impossible to understand", the lawyer said.
This, he suggested, could explain in part why psychiatric experts had reached different conclusions about Breivik's mental state.This, he suggested, could explain in part why psychiatric experts had reached different conclusions about Breivik's mental state.
He described his client as an ordinary young man with good friends and colleagues. How, he asked, would a man who was mentally ill have been allowed to join a shooting club?He described his client as an ordinary young man with good friends and colleagues. How, he asked, would a man who was mentally ill have been allowed to join a shooting club?
Nothing in Breivik's life up until the "inferno of violence" on 22 July had indicated he was a violent person, the lawyer argued.Nothing in Breivik's life up until the "inferno of violence" on 22 July had indicated he was a violent person, the lawyer argued.
Had violence, not politics, been his main driving force, he could have gone to an Oslo shopping mall, Mr Lippestad said.Had violence, not politics, been his main driving force, he could have gone to an Oslo shopping mall, Mr Lippestad said.
Survivors listen
The prosecution took the stand again on Friday in response to Mr Lippestad, saying they were not convinced Breivik was psychotic.
However, there was enough doubt for the prosecution to ask for Breivik to be found unaccountable for his actions, they said.
On Thursday, in their closing arguments, the prosecution called for the killer to be placed in "compulsory psychiatric care", and not sent to prison.
It was worse, they argued, to sentence a psychotic person to prison than to place a non-psychotic person in psychiatric care.
As the lawyer spoke, Breivik sat calmly, occasionally sipping water.As the lawyer spoke, Breivik sat calmly, occasionally sipping water.
Directly behind him sat several of those he had tried to kill on Utoeya while others were elsewhere in the courtroom, our correspondent reports. The prosecution took the stand again on Friday in response to Mr Lippestad, saying they were not convinced Breivik was psychotic but there was enough doubt to ask for Breivik to be found unaccountable for his actions.
On Thursday, in their closing arguments, the prosecution had called for the killer to be placed in "compulsory psychiatric care", and not sent to prison.
It was worse, they argued, to sentence a psychotic person to prison than to place a non-psychotic person in psychiatric care.
'For my daughter'
Sissel Wilsgard, who was injured by the Oslo bomb, took the stand on Friday afternoon to describe its lasting impact.
Some 100 government employees needed counselling in its aftermath, she was quoted as saying on Twitter by journalist Trygve Sorvaag.
Choking back tears, an unnamed, bereaved mother described what it was like to lose her daughter in the blast.
She said she had decided to attend the trial for the sake of her dead daughter.
"I decided not to be afraid of Breivik. I wanted to follow the trial. I wanted to do it for my daughter."
Trond Blattmann, leader of the 22 July Support Group, told Reuters news agency: "For me the most important thing is that he [Breivik] is not going to be in Norwegian society anymore."Trond Blattmann, leader of the 22 July Support Group, told Reuters news agency: "For me the most important thing is that he [Breivik] is not going to be in Norwegian society anymore."