Accused mass killer Anders Breivik saluted as he entered court yesterday to face trial for killing 77 people. Picture: AFP Source: AFP
- Lay judge dismissed in Anders Breivik massacre trial
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NORWEGIAN mass killer Anders Behring Breivik told an Oslo courtroom today that he "would do it again", as he faced the second day of his trial over the deaths of 77 people.
Reading from a 30-minute prepared testimony, Breivik called himself a "revolutionary" who made "the most spectacular and sophisticated attack on Europe since World War II".
Speaking calmly and softly, he told the court, "People who call me evil have misunderstood ... my actions were based on goodness not evil ... I did this to save future generations."
"Is it acceptable Norwegian people are not asked in referendum to accept the immigration of Africans and Asians? We risk becoming a minority," Breivik said. "The last time there was real democracy in Europe was when Hitler came to power."
During his testimony, the judge interrupted Breivik to ask if he was quoting from his manifesto - an 8000-word document he published online ahead of the July 23 attacks in which described himself as being on a "crusade" against the spread of Islam.
Breivik - who is charged with terrorism and murder after admitting killing 77 people - denied the claim, saying he wrote the testimony especially for the court.
Footage of his statement was not broadcast amid fears he would use the testimony to promote his extremist views.
Thomas Indreboe, one of the lay judges has been dismissed for commenting online last year that the anti-Muslim extremist deserves the death penalty for killing 77 people. Picture: AP
Source: AP
The 33-year-old claimed he toned down its rhetoric in respect of the survivors and victims of the July 22 massacre, according to Sky News reporters inside the court.
The trial got off to a tentative start earlier today after the prosecution and defence called for a lay judge to be removed from the panel.
Both teams asked that Thomas Indrebo be dismissed after it came to light that he wrote on Facebook the day after the July 2011 attacks that Breivik deserved the death penalty.
Indrebo was replaced by Elisabeth Wisloff, a backup lay judge, following a recess of around 50 minutes.
Indrebo wrote on the Verdens Gang newspaper's Facebook page July 23, "The death penalty is the only fair outcome in this case!!!!"
Lead judge Wenche Elizabeth Arntzen told the court that as both the prosecution and defence had asked for Indrebo to step aside, he was dismissed from the judging panel.
Breivik, who once again gave a far-right salute on entering the courtroom, smirked as Indrebo's legal competency was discussed.
The 33-year-old, who admitted killing eight people by detonating a bomb in Oslo and a further 69 during a shooting spree on nearby Utoya island, pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday. He claims the attacks were a political act designed to prevent Norway from being taken over by Muslims.
The trial is expected to last 10 weeks and is taking place before a panel of five judges, including three lay judges.
The panel must decide whether to send Breivik to prison or compulsory psychiatric care. Previous psychiatric examinations have disagreed on whether he is legally insane.
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