The county court in Telemark has rejected Anders Behring Breivik’s request to be released from prison on parole, just over 10 years after he killed 77 people in right-wing terrorist attacks in Oslo and on the island of Utøya. The judge ruled that Breivik continues to lack any empathy or regret for his attacks and remains a menace to society.
Breivik, known for using court appearances as a means of promoting racist ideology, said he’ll appeal the ruling. He was sentenced to Norway’s longest prison term of 21 years plus forvaring, a form of custody meant to protect the public and which can keep him in prison for life. Breivik retained a right, though, to seek parole after serving at 10 years of his sentence.
His defense attorney Øystein Storrvik told NRK that he had gone through the judge’s ruling with his client after his parole hearing last month “and he expressed that he wants to appeal. I don’t have much to say beyond that.” He’s also preparing another legal challenge to the conditions under which Breivik is serving. Breivik is being held in a special three-room cell in a high-security prison in Skien and has no contact with other prisoners, primarily for his own safety.
newsinenglish.no staff
