Rambling killer Breivik asks to be cleared

The trial of Anders Breivik has ended with the mass killer demanding to be set free and vowing that history would exonerate him for a bomb-and-gun rampage that killed 77 people.

The self-styled anti-Muslim militant got the final word in the 10-week proceedings, but it is unclear whether it helped the main point of his defence: Trying to prove that he is sane.

In a rambling statement, Breivik lashed out at everything he found wrong with the world, from non-ethnic Norwegians representing the country in the Eurovision to the sexually liberated lifestyle of the characters in the television show Sex and the City.

Incorporating current events into his statement, the confessed killer claimed fellow right-wing extremists were behind a small amount of explosives found outside a Swedish nuclear plant this week. Swedish police spokesman Tommy Nyman had no comment “especially not if he says it”.

While some of 33- year-old Breivik’s comments prompted laughter in the court, a serious atmosphere returned when he reiterated his motive for bombing the government headquarters in Oslo, killing eight, and hunting down teenagers at the Labour Party’s youth camp.

Sixty-nine people were killed and dozens more injured in one of the worst peacetime shooting massacres by a single gunman.

“History shows that you have to commit a small barbarism to prevent a bigger barbarism,” he said.

“The attacks on July 22 were preventive attacks to defend the indigenous Norwegian people. I therefore demand to be acquitted.”

Breivik claims that the governing Labour Party has betrayed the country by accepting Muslim immigrants and must be stopped before turning Norway into what he called a “multiculturalist hell”.

Earlier, defence lawyer Geir Lippestad had tried to prove his client is sane — the key issue to be resolved in the trial since Breivik admits the attacks.

Mr Lippestad also entered a plea for acquittal, but it was made out of principle, without any realistic chance of success.

Relatives of some of those killed tried to put their loss in words. Kirsti Loevlie, whose 30-year-old daughter Hanne was killed by the bomb, moved the Oslo court to tears when she described the shock of finding out her daughter was dead.

Still, Ms Loevlie said she felt a need to attend the trial, seeing Breivik in a position where he could not hurt anyone anymore.

“I am not going to be afraid of this man,” she said.

“I decided I would go to court. I felt I owed it to Hanne.”

The courtroom burst out in applause and audible sobs as she finished her statement. Breivik remained motionless, his face blank.

Lippestad tried to prove to the court that Breivik’s claims of being a resistance fighter in a struggle to protect Norway and Europe from being colonised by Muslims were not delusional, but part of a political view shared by other right-wing extremists.

“He realised that it is wrong to kill but he chose to kill. That’s what terrorists do,” said Lippestad.

“The ends justify the means. You don’t understand this if you don’t understand the culture of right-wing extremists.

“When Breivik talks about a civil war he’s not fantasising about tanks and soldiers in the forest, but referring to a low-intensity struggle he believes will last for 60 years. None of us know what Europe will look like in 60 years.”

The five-judge panel will announce its ruling on Aug 24, chief judge Wenche Elisabeth Arntzen said.

If deemed mentally competent, Breivik is likely to be given Norway’s maximum prison term of 21 years. A sentence can be extended beyond that if a prisoner is considered a menace to society.

If declared insane, he would be committed to a mental institution for as long as he is considered sick and dangerous. Prosecutors suggested that could mean he would be held for life.