Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik may avoid jail and end up in psychiatric institution after experts concluded he is criminally insane, a state prosecutor has said.
(SOUNDBITE) (Norwegian) STATE PROSECUTOR SVEIN HOLDEN SAYING:
"They conclude that Anders Behring Breivik has over a long period of time developed the mental disorder paranoid schizophrenia which has changed him and made him into the person he is today."
Breivik killed 77 people in July.
He gunned down dozens, mostly teenagers, at a summer camp of the ruling Labour Party's youth wing and bombed central Oslo.
If the court accepts the report's conclusions, Breivik would be held in a mental health institution rather than in a prison.
Norwegian courts can challenge psychiatric evaluations or order new tests but rarely reject them.
Breivik could be held as long as he posed a threat to society but may be released if found to be healthy.
In his first public court appearance on November 14th Breivik admitted he carried out the killings but refused to enter a guilty plea.
He told the court he was a military commander in a far-right resistance movement.
Marie-Claire Fennessy, Reuters