Only a little over 12 months ago, Anders Behring Brejvik set off a car bomb in the Norwegian city of Oslo and killed eight people. He then proceeded to the nearby Utoya Island where young members of the Norwegian Labour Party were meeting as part of their annual summer camp. And he shot dead another 69 people with a semi-automatic weapon.
Today, a Norwegian court has found Brejvik guilty of the murder of 77 innocent people. The court ruled that Brejvik was sane at the time that he planned and executed the bombing attack; that he was sane when he shot those 69 young people – many of them just teenagers. This man knew exactly what he was doing.
After a 10-week-trial – where he showed absolutely no remorse – Brejvik has been sentenced to 21 years in prison.
The Guardian reports:
The court’s decision will have delighted Breivik, who had hoped to avoid what he called the “humiliation” of being dismissed as a madman.
The mass-killer had desperately hoped the court would find him criminally culpable for the killings, claiming they were “cruel and necessary” to protect Norway from becoming overrun by Muslims.
After two months of deliberations, the five-judge panel told a packed Oslo courtroom that they considered the perpetrator of last year’s gun and bomb attacks, the worst in the country’s history, mentally fit enough to be held criminally responsible for the attacks, which also left 242 wounded…
Most Norwegians, including the victims’ families, had wanted Breivik to be found sane so he could be held accountable for what they view as a political crime.
The decision also means there will be no appeal, Breveik’s lawyer Geir Lippestad having promised the gunman will not contest a jail sentence.
Breivik has readily admitted to carrying out the twin attacks that shocked the famously peaceful country.
Despite being sentenced to only 21 years in prison, Breivik will almost certainly serve a life sentence. Norway’s law permits only for a maximum prison term of 21 years but their ‘preventative detention’ statutes mean that can be extended so long as the prisoner is still considered to be dangerous.
It still remains hard to comprehend.
77 lives and 21 years.
This man’s sentence reflects a term of less than 6 months for each of the young people whose lives he ended.
It’s difficult to know what to say. We’re at a loss. Over to you…
Comments
61 Comments so far
I feel this despicable insect needs life imprisonment with NO parole!. I hope he rots in Jail!
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Read a little more on what his sentence really is. He’ll be in the big house for a lot more than 21 years.
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Before jumping on the bandwagon of criticising the sentence, I suggest people read this to understand the actual situation a little better:
http://www.newsinenglish.no/2012/08/24/breivik-ruled-sane-and-sent-to-jail/
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In 21 years Europe will be ruled by muslims; there is no chance for him to be alive in 21 years. Which is ironic in some strange, sick way.
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I just hope that he isn’t kept in solitary confinement 24/7.. You know what happens in prison to people that are in there for harming children… (I don’t actually know, but I read a lot of books ha)
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Without legal reform, the court is bound by existing rules. There’s no way he’ll be out in 21 years. He’ll serve a life.
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I have a deep history with Norway (a country I have huge respect for). Make no mistake: this animal won’t be getting out after 21 years, The Norwegians have already decided that in their own way.
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Well I certainly hope he stays in jail forever- he is clearly dangerous. I also think he’s mad and not right in the head at all. He may have known what he was doing, but his views are just so twisted and abnormal.
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Well done Mamamia for removing the photo. Let him not have the privilege of a face any longer. It is to be hoped no publisher will accept for publication anything he writes while incarcerated in jail also. Now this would be an outrage indeed. A pity he can’t be given a sentence of hard labour as well as his 21 years.
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Why are you “at a loss”? You understand (since you mentioned it) that this will probably be a life sentence. It’s good enough, right?
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ummmm – what the? call a doctor please, something just went pop inside your word factory.
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Norway’s maximum sentence is 21 years, they do not have life or the death penalty.
Im sure someone will kill him when he gets out anyway.
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He won’t get out. 21 years is the maximum but they can extend it indefinitely.
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The “boyfriends who saved their girlfriends during the Aurora shooting” post reminds me of this story from the shooting.
A couple saved an estimated 40 children during the ordeal.
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-08-04/news/29870104_1_lesbian-couple-massacre-fjord
I remember asking my dad that day, what it felt like the day he covered the ’67 bushfires in Hobart. If anyone here is old enough to have seen the report on tv, that was my (at the time) 17 yr old dad. He said, in situations like that, you can’t think you just do. They drove through fire and he saw so much that day. He still has memories of that day.
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What’s with the sensationalism? 21 years was all he could get officially, but he’s unlikely to ever leave prison so it’s basically life. Your sensationalism is like saying ‘why does he only get one life imprisonment? They should turn him into a zombie and keep him there forever’
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Well a non parole period of 21 years sounds as bad in its own way as the Fine US tradition of handing 3000 years (or similar) for shoplifting. In essence the sentence handed down doesnt always reflect the time they’re actually going to end up serving.
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Guys, seriously? Don’t fabricate!! It is well known ( even your own story says ) that he will die in prison. it is the maximum sentence that can be handed down in Norway!!!
This is simply incorrect: “This man’s sentence reflects a term of less than 6 months for each of the young people whose lives he ended.”
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A couple of thoughts – clearly he IS a mad man, and please don’t play up the 21 years for 77 lives, when the facts are quite clearly different. The guy will get life.
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There is a difference between MAD and BAD. I know it’s hard to comprehend, but some people are just evil.
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99.5 days for every life he ended and nothing for the families whose lives he destroyed except a smirk.
Now his smiling face is plastered over international media, and he has truly won his battle to publicise his cause.
I understand that the legal system is in place for a reason, and that it has only a certain amount of flexibility, but surely they should have charged this man with both terrorism and murder – at least consecutive sentences would have put him out of sight and discouraged copycats and sympathisers.
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The judge sentenced him as harshly as their law allows, which was all he could do. Using the discretion of the system though, you can only hope he’ll never end up a free man.
What I find more disturbing is the absolute disparity between different countries laws (and before you say anything, yes, I know the laws vary everywhere)… You can kill 77 people & injure 242 more in Norway, and end up with a lighter sentence than a drug mule in Bali, who ends up with a life sentence or the death penalty.
That’s what makes me go ‘WOW’.
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The judge is/was a she. She sentenced him as harshly as she could.
(Sorry, not trying to be nit-picky, or detract from your point, just trying to help break down common societal assumptions.)
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Would Mamamia please consider taking his photo down? I find it really offensive and quite frankly I have always held the opinion that perpetrators such as this should only be referred to by number and their photo never shown. He clearly enjoys his notoriety. It is sickening.
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That is such a good point. Disturbed kids will sometimes idolize such people which can result in copycat crimes. No pictures and numbers actually makes sense.
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Teacup
Thank you for this comment.
We are in the process of taking his photo down right now. Not sure we can delete his name but I’ll look into it in the morning.
These killers long for notoriety … why should we oblige them?
We shouldn’t.
Thanks again for your comment.
Bec xxxx
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Thank you so much for taking it down, Bec. Thank you.
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Why is it still on the mobile site???
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It’s a great day for the law all over the world. Jayant Patel’s conviction got quashed as well. I actually said ‘Oh my God’, out loud at work when I saw that.
I suspect that Brejvik will find himself in the same boat as Julian Knight – applying for parol and never getting it.
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Parole applications are so painful for the victims’ families, forcing them to confront the criminal year after year. I wish the words “No possibility of parole” were tacked on to every killer’s sentence, world-wide.
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If a political party made something like that part of their platform, I would definitely vote for them. 100% agree.
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Yeah, because rehabilitation isn’t a thing.
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WTF? I’m actually glad I missed that on the news (the Patel story). Now I can go to bed p*^#ed off. Grrrr.
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Why does Norway have a cap on a sentence? Anyone know?
Save his country the cost of incarceration. Donate his body to science – one body part at a time.
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That’s sick. Torturing anyone is not okay. Shame.
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So is killing 77 innocent people..
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Norway place great emphasis on rehabilitation. They are famous for their progressive approach to treating criminals. They have one of the lowest recidivism rates in the world i.e. whether or not prisoners will re-offend. Roughly, the US are at about 60% prisoners will re-offend, the UK 50%, Australia 40% and Norway are 20%.
I don’t want to send the spam filter into overdrive by providing too many links – you can just google if you are interested – but this from the CNN is worth a look:
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/europe/08/02/vbs.norwegian.prisons/index.html
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I can see both sides of this. Yes, it sounds like an astonishingly short sentence considering his crimes. But those are the laws in Norway for better or worse. And there is provision to keep him jailed indefinitely after his sentence is complete. Given his attitude and inability to stop promoting his own views, I don’t think they’ll find a reason to release him.
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Speechless, also. And we complain about our justice system…. It’s incomparable.
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Don’t know about that…. Andrew Kalajzich was given parole this year after 25 years in jail. Mr Kalajzich was convicted for hiring someone to shoot his wife as she lay asleep beside him.
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Our justice system? My cousin was killed by a moron driving under the influence of 3 different illicit substances. She was 25, had just landed her dream job and gotten engaged. He put her family through hell delaying court dates and jumping bail for over a year and in the end got 11 months. Their lives are forever darker. Our justice system is pathetic.
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That is so sad. My thoughts
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This is an excellent example of a media beat up. He was sentenced to 21 years, the judge could not sentence him to anymore as that is the law in Norway. A judge can’t change the law. He will never be released from jail as he will be held under their ‘preventative detention’ legislation. He will rot in jail for the rest of his life – good.
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Which is exactly what mamamia said in the article above? What is your point?
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My point? Ok let me spell it out for you. The hand wringing title & outrage over what an inadequate sentence it was when clearly it was and always has been the maximum sentence in Norway. “21 years, 77 lives etc” is just sensationalism. The guy copped the full brunt of the law in Norway however we all know that he won’t just serve 21 years he will never get out. So calm down & be thankful the freak will never experience freedom again.
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Hi Snap!!
Now here’s something interesting … is our headline really “handwringing’? It’s just words stating the sentence. And his sentence was breaking news!
I’m not sure our post is outraged? Is it? Maybe it does read that way. I think it is taking many of us a little while to get our heads around the different sentencing system in Norway.
And I hope you’re right and that he does stay in jail permanently. But I wonder if – after 21 years – he was found to be showing great remorse, was a model prisoner etc etc if there is even the remotest of chances that he could be released?
And I think that’s what some people worry about.
But thanks for your comment. It all leads to an interesting discussion!
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I respectfully disagree. It’s a sensational headline & article & I’m tired of the way the media reports these events. He received the maximum sentence allowed in Norway, it was widely reported at the time of the murders that this was the case so why are we surprised when it actually happened, why are you “at a loss”?
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If you don’t like this site for what it is, stay off the message boards with your ridiculous negativity. Most of us are able to read the headline and discuss the article without carrying on about Mamamia itself. What is your problem?
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Are you joking?? What a ridiculous comment to make. I have in no way “carried on about mamamia” all media outlets are reporting this in a similar way. When I refer to “media” this means all media not just this site. I have been a regular commenter on this site for years & I have the utmost respect for Mia & her team. Just because I don’t agree with the way this article has been represented doesn’t mean “I have a problem”. I’m not a sycophant and I have an opinion. This is a healthy discussion which I am participating in.
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Until now, you did not say “All media outlets are reporting this in a similar way,” so it looked like you were criticising THIS particular article. I thought the same thing as the writer above. Until you clarified.
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I am in fact criticizing this article. Just because I don’t like this article doesn’t mean I dislike this site. I think Mia & her team would encourage a healthy respectful debate which is why I enjoy commenting here. It would be a bit dull if we all just towed the party line. Have a great weekend.
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I think the fact that most people in the comments are raging over the fact he ‘only’ got 21 years, means they didn’t finish the article. To leave such an important point til the third last line of a long article is dodgy.
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Some people have been following mamamia for years. I’m sure they’re the harshest critics. I don’t count myself as an exception. This type of sensationalist writing/ weirdly misleading titles , of the quality of what you find in colourful newspapers that scream “baby born with four heads!!!” at you, is brand new on mamamia. It’s getting disturbing , I have to admit.
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Hi Clarinette!
A headline that announces the sentence given to the killer isn’t misleading. I think perhaps people are projecting a ‘tone’ onto that headline!
The sentence given to the killer (I refuse to write his name) was breaking news last night.
I also think it’s a legitimate discussion to have about his sentence. I think what people worry about it the ‘certainty’ that the killer will actually stay in jail. If he rehabilitates himself and becomes a model prisoner, is there a chance he could be released in 21 years? And should he be given that chance?
It’s an interesting discussion!
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I actually only had a look (going by the headline) to see if the bit about the discretion to extend it indefinitely was in there explaining.
I agree with the others, it’s a dodgy headline.
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There is a definite effort to stir up emotions by making facts appear blurry that I don’t appreciate. Take this part for example: “Despite being sentenced to only 21 years in prison, Breivik will almost certainly serve a life sentence. Norway’s law permits only for a maximum prison term of 21 years but their ‘preventative detention’ statutes mean that can be extended so long as the prisoner is still considered to be dangerous.
It still remains hard to comprehend.
77 lives and 21 years.” : You say it remains hard to comprehend after stating that this is the maximum possible sentence in Norway. How are laws hard to comprehend? They’re not going to change their justice system over one sociopath.
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I am at such a loss. So many angry and disgusted feelings all pouring out at once right now.
Those kids – were something to be marveled at – young people who quite genuinely wanted to make their country and their world a better place. And this is how their lives end and this is the sentence their killer receives.
I know that Norwegian law means he’ll probably be in jail for life anyway but it still grates. It feels like it’s not enough.
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Im sure he will end up spending hs life in jail …no one would dare do otherwise as is right .
After his whole life in jail there is only the death sentence… is that enough ?
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He should get life for each person he killed. What a disgusting human being. I hope he rots in jail
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Wow, and not the good kind of wow. If they were only able to give a maximum sentence of 21 years, then he should have been given 21 years for each life he took, to be served consecutively. 77 x 21 equals never getting out of jail.
Here’s hoping they use their preventative statute to its full extent.
What a kick in the face to everyone affected by this tragedy.
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Gobsmacking, insulting sentence. He can never be released, never and if he is someone will get him for sure.
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He’ll never get out of prison alive. Someone will get him. It won’t matter if he’s kept in solitary 24/7. Someone will definitely get him.
That said, the sentence is piss weak.
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