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Breivik trial Day 40: Personality disorders, World of Warcraft, and witness dismissal
Published on Monday, 18th June, 2012 at 21:50 under the news category, by Geetika Nautiyal and Ben McPherson and Lyndsey Smith
.
Last Updated on 20th June 2012 at 00:51.
UPDATED: On their second day in court, it was the prosecution’s turn to pose psychiatric experts Terje Tørrisen and Agnar Aspaas questions, Tuesday.
Agnar Aspaas (L), Terje Tørrisen (R)
Photo: ©2012 Ben McPherson/The Foreigner
Judge Wenche Arntzen began by asking the experts about their assessment, the Knights Templar, and how they felt about their diagnosis after witnessing the trial before the prosecution began.
As with the first experts Torgeir Husby and Synne Sørheim, Tørrisen and Aspaas stood by their assessment and said that Breivik is not suffering from psychosis.
The judge also asked why they chose not to speak with Breivik’s mother. Aspaas told the court that they had a lot of information already, and that Breivik’s mother was suffering from health problems.
The techniques used throughout their assessment of Breivik were discussed in court as well.
Judge Arntzen also asked about the first report, wanting comments about the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia.
The experts commented on Breivik’s use of neologisms and said that Breivik used words that he could explain, and although they may not have known what the words were, they found meanings when using Google.
Prosecutor Inga Bejer Engh began by asking Terje Tørrisen about any doubts he had over whether Breivik was psychotic.
He replied that he did, as he saw a lack of emotions from Breivik at a meeting with him near the beginning of the trial, where all four members of the defence were present.
The prosecution explained the findings of the second report that declared it was likely Breivik was suffering from a personality disorder, and that there was no significant change in his personality since 2006.
Prosecuting counsels then referred back to the first report that said that his personality had in fact altered since the same year.
The witnesses were asked to go through the symptoms of a narcissistic personality disorder and a dissocial personality disorder.
Inga Bejer Engh read out statements from Breivik’s friends who said that he acted evasively to some arguments. and was not someone who was likely to pick a fight.
The witness also told the prosecution that Breivik did not show a complete lack of empathy in all situations.
When questioned about whether Breivik was showing signs of narcissism before 2006, the prosecution was informed that there might have been some indications.
The experts were also asked about Breivik’s choice to isolate himself, and whether this went against a narcissistic personality.
Agnar Aspaas told the court that a terrorist action could not be considered a psychotic symptom in itself but that it challenged them to look for psychotic symptoms.
When discussing World of Warcraft, Tørrisen said that his assistant plays the game and they used this in their analysis.
The prosecution asked Tørrisen about that if Breivik believed that a meeting had taken place in London, whether this could be seen as a form of paranoid psychosis.
Tørrisen also explained that Breivik’s views are shared with people belonging to the extreme right but few actually support Breivik’s actions on Utøya.
Aspaas said that they wanted to give the broadest account possible of Breivik’s actions.
Moreover, Tørrisen stated that steroid use by Breivik could have contributed to his aggression.
The defence was also given time to ask Tørrissen and Aspaas questions relating to their psychiatric report.
Aspaas explained that while what can seem to be irrational ideas can be accepted by some people as rational, this does not make the people who believe in them psychotic.
At the end of the day the psychiatric experts were asked if one member from each team could stay present even after they had finished testifying.
They were unwilling stating that they are unsure what affect their continued presence would have and the judge dismissed all four as witnesses with thanks.
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Published on Monday, 18th June, 2012 at 21:50 under the news category, by Geetika Nautiyal and Ben McPherson and Lyndsey Smith
.
Last updated on 20th June 2012 at 00:51.
This post has the following tags: andersbehringbreivik, breiviktrialoslo, oslodistrictcourt, utoeyashootings, utoya.
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Breivik trial Day 40: Personality disorders, World of Warcraft, and witness dismissal. UPDATED: On their second day in court, it was the prosecution’s turn to pose psychiatric experts Terje Tørrisen and Agnar Aspaas questions, Tuesday. Judge Wenche Arntzen began by asking the experts about their assessment, the Knights Templar, and how they felt about their diagnosis after witnessing the trial before the prosecution began. As with the first experts Torgeir Husby and Synne Sørheim, Tørrisen and Aspaas stood by their assessment and said that Breivik is not suffering from psychosis.
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