Norway killer Breivik is 'not psychotic', say experts

[GirlNextDoor15]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16416791

Yeah.. yeah. So, the killer is not psychotic. Is it really that important to find out if he's psychotic or not? Any thoughts?

[FlyingJesus]

It is important because it can impact the sentencing - not something I particularly agree with as someone having terrible inner problems doesn't excuse them from their actions, but in terms of the law as it stands this could see him get a much less comfortable sentence

[Ajthedragon]

I think the idea is to identify the problem and make sure it doesn't happen to anybody else.

Whatever they say he'll be put away for the life.

[Catzsy]

Well he is a danger to the public and personally I would find it hard to believe that the guy was not insane but if he isn't he is just plain evil.

[Zak]

I guess he just wanted to be remembered

[The Don]

surely if he did it to be remembered he would of denied the charges to get a trial out of it?

[FlyingJesus]

He did deny the charges

[The Don]

He did deny the charges

on that website it says

"Breivik admits to twin attacks on 22 July 2011, which killed 77 people."

So i'm confused as to how he denied the charges yet admits committing the attacks?

[beth]

think it's quite good he hasn't got the (i don't wanna use this phrase but it's the only coming to me) "cop-out" of mental illness. many people suffer daily, doesn't mean they go round and shoot a **** load of people.

[GommeInc]

He did seem to know what he was doing, which is why the experts believe he isn't psychotic. The fact he happily shown the police how he got on to the island was one potential give away, as were the tests and the observations inside the prison by psychiatrists. He (Breivik) claims he is psychotic, which will give him a lighter sentence, but these recent claims by psychatrists and criminal experts will make his sentence harsher, because a man who has a guilty mind who commits criminal actions is potentially more evil that a man who only possesses one (a guilty mind or a criminal act).

Look up actus reus and mens rea, which are considered the key elements of crime in many countries who share similarities in the 'common law' system e.g. Britain, Canada, America and parts of Europe.

on that website it says

"Breivik admits to twin attacks on 22 July 2011, which killed 77 people."

So i'm confused as to how he denied the charges yet admits committing the attacks?

He denies what he did was a crime - if that makes sense?