New psychiatric evaluation presented for Anders Behring Breivik ahead of parole hearing in Ringerike District Court

A new psychiatric evaluation will be presented in court regarding Anders Behring Breivik, for the first time since his 2012 trial, as stated by his attorney, Øystein Storrvik. The report, which exceeds one hundred pages, is deemed significant, although Storrvik refrained from summarizing its contents ahead of the legal proceedings.

Next week, Breivik’s petition for parole will be considered by the Ringerike District Court. It has been over a year and a half since he last sought release, which was denied with no possibility of appeal. Breivik is currently serving a 21-year sentence of preventative detention following the deadly attacks on July 22, 2011, which resulted in 77 fatalities. Once the minimum period of confinement has passed, individuals sentenced to preventative detention can theoretically request parole annually.

Storrvik emphasizes that Breivik has the right to seek a conclusion to his indefinite sentence, which he intends to exercise. However, central to the court’s deliberation is whether Breivik has undergone any changes since 2012 and if he remains a threat to society. The prosecution maintains that the new psychiatric assessment does not alter their view of Breivik’s risk of re-offending, reaffirming that he is still perceived as dangerous.

Originally scheduled for summer, the hearing was postponed due to a conflict involving Breivik’s previous risk assessors. New experts, psychiatrist Pia Jorde Løvgren and psychologist Kåre Nonstad, will provide a fresh risk evaluation. The court has allocated three days to address Breivik’s request, with expert testimony taking a significant portion of the proceedings.

Breivik, imprisoned for his heinous actions, has previously engaged in extremist behavior during hearings, posing questions about his current demeanor in court. Storrvik hopes for a serious and respectful judicial process, despite Breivik’s troubling history.