Thursday, June 21, 2012

Prosecutors ask for psychiatric care for Breivik

Anders Behring Breivik, the confessed gunman who killed 77 people last year in a bomb and shooting rampage, center, reacts in court as prosecutors deliver their closing arguments in the court in Oslo, Norway Thursday June 21, 2012. After nearly 10 weeks of grueling testimony of one of the worst peacetime massacres in modern history, it's time for prosecutors to decide their position on whether they think confessed mass killer Anders Behring Breivik is insane or not. (AP Photo/Berit Roald/Scanpix NTB POOL)

Anders Behring Breivik, the confessed gunman who killed 77 people last year in a bomb and shooting rampage, center, reacts in court as prosecutors deliver their closing arguments in the court in Oslo, Norway Thursday June 21, 2012. After nearly 10 weeks of grueling testimony of one of the worst peacetime massacres in modern history, it's time for prosecutors to decide their position on whether they think confessed mass killer Anders Behring Breivik is insane or not. (AP Photo/Berit Roald/Scanpix NTB POOL)

Anders Behring Breivik, the confessed gunman who killed 77 people last year in a bomb and shooting rampage, center, is seated between his defense lawyers Geir Lippestad, left, and Vibeke Hein Baera, right, before prosecutors deliver their closing arguments in the court in Oslo Thursday June 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Berit Roald/Scanpix NTB POOL)

Prosecutor Svein Holden delivers closing arguments in the trial against Anders Behring Breivik, the confessed gunman who killed 77 people last year in a bomb and shooting rampage, unseen, in the court in Oslo, Norway Thursday June 21, 2012. After nearly 10 weeks of grueling testimony of one of the worst peacetime massacres in modern history, it's time for prosecutors to decide their position on whether they think confessed mass killer Anders Behring Breivik is insane or not. (AP Photo/Vegard Groett/Scanpix NTB POOL)

Prosecutor Inga Bejer Engh delivers closing arguments in the trial against Anders Behring Breivik, the confessed gunman who killed 77 people last year in a bomb and shooting rampage, unseen, in the court in Oslo, Norway Thursday June 21, 2012. After nearly 10 weeks of grueling testimony of one of the worst peacetime massacres in modern history, it's time for prosecutors to decide their position on whether they think confessed mass killer Anders Behring Breivik is insane or not. (AP Photo/Berit Roald/Scanpix NTB POOL)

Anders Behring Breivik, the confessed gunman who killed 77 people last year in a bomb and shooting rampage, left, with prosecutor Svein Holden, background, during closing arguments in the court in Oslo, Norway Thursday June 21, 2012. After nearly 10 weeks of grueling testimony of one of the worst peacetime massacres in modern history, it's time for prosecutors to decide their position on whether they think confessed mass killer Anders Behring Breivik is insane or not. (AP Photo/Berit Roald/Scanpix NTB POOL)

OSLO, Norway (AP) ? Prosecutors on Thursday asked a court to send confessed mass killer Anders Behring Breivik to a mental institution instead of prison for his massacre of 77 people in a gun and shooting rampage.

If the court comes to the same conclusion when it issues its ruling, expected next month, it would mean that Breivik will avoid criminal responsibility for Norway's worst peacetime massacre.

The attacks at Norway's government headquarters and a youth summer camp would then not be considered acts of political terrorism, but the work of a blood-thirsty madman.

"We request that he is transferred to compulsory psychiatric care," prosecutor Svein Holden told the court in closing arguments.

The defense is likely to refute the insanity finding on Friday, the last day of the 10-week trial. Breivik, who styles himself as an anti-Muslim militant, claims he is sane and that his attacks were motivated by his political views.

Just like when the trial stared in mid-April, the 33-year-old Norwegian flashed a clenched-fist salute with his right arm before he was led out of the court on Thursday.

Associated Press

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