Home » News » Freddy Lie, Utøya Survivor, Speaks on Court Case Against Anders Behring Breivik for Violations of Human Rights

Freddy Lie, Utøya Survivor, Speaks on Court Case Against Anders Behring Breivik for Violations of Human Rights

– We were supposed to send him to summer pasture [den amerikanske fangeleiren] Guantánamo – then he might have stopped complaining. He is doing better than many others in Norwegian prisons, says Freddy Lie (63) to Dagbladet.

Anders Behring Breivik has had a major impact on Lie’s life. On 22 July 2011, the Haldensen’s daughters Elisabeth and Cathrine, aged 16 and 17 respectively, were on Utøya. Both were shot by the terrorist – Elisabeth was killed, Cathrine survived with major injuries.

– Must be careful

Lie has followed all the court proceedings with Breivik closely. On Monday, he will stand in the gymnasium at Ringerike prison, where it is ready for a new trial on the mass murderer’s sentencing regime.

IN THE COURT: Utøya survivor Freddy Lie (63) follows the trial from the courtroom, together with his young stepdaughter. Photo: Bjørn Langsem / Dagbladet Show more

– This has become mine… it’s something I have to follow as long as I have the health to do so. I have to make sure he doesn’t get out.

– What kind of experience do you get from seeing him up close?

– He is a sick person who has no empathy, and lives in his own world. He will probably give a Nazi salute, as he always did. And then everyone realizes that he hasn’t improved a bit.

KILLED BY BREIVIK: Elisabeth Trønnes Lie was only 16 years old. Photo: Private Show more

This time Lie has her youngest stepdaughter Victoria (20) in court, for the first time.

– She turned eight years old six days after Elisabeth’s funeral, and has grown up with this, explains the 63-year-old.

He has previously said that life as an Utøya survivor has taken a toll on his health and family life.

– Gotta go on Prozac

– Three or four years ago, she suddenly wanted to go to Utøya. Then she was ready enough to join in and gain an understanding of what happened to the sisters, says Lie.

Twice as long

This is the second time lawyer Øystein Storrvik has led a case on the conditions of sentencing on behalf of Breivik. In the previous round in 2016/17, the terrorist lost on all points in the anchor round, after initially being partially successful.

This is the case

  • The 44-year-old terrorist and mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik – formally Fjotolf Hansen – has sued the state at the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Response. He believes his prison conditions violate human rights.
  • Breivik is serving a sentence of 21 years in custody with 10 years of probation for the terrorist actions on 22 July 2011, when he killed a total of 77 people in the Government Quarter and on Utøya, motivated by far-right ideology and conspiracy theories.
  • The custodial sentence means that the 44-year-old can spend the rest of his life in prison, if the court repeatedly finds that he still poses a danger to society.
  • The terrorist is serving time under a so-called particularly high security level in Ringerike prison in Buskerud. He has social contact with a very limited circle of people, mainly prison staff, and does not have internet access. Most of the letters he writes are stopped by the censors.
  • Breivik believes the sentencing regime violates Articles 3 and 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights – respectively on torture, inhuman and degrading treatment; and the right to privacy.
  • This is the second time Breivik has sued on this basis. In the previous round, in 2016/17, he was upheld by the District Court on the point about Article 3, but the state won on all points in the Court of Appeal. The case was subsequently rejected by the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.
  • The main hearing in the case is scheduled between 8 and 12 January. It takes place in the gymnasium in Ringerike prison. Breivik is represented by lawyer Øystein Storrvik, while the state is represented by lawyers Andreas Hjetland and Kristoffer Nerland at the Government Attorney.

Sea view

– The evidence now will be very similar to last time. The main difference is that he has now spent twice as long in solitary confinement, Storrvik explained about the new trial round to Dagbladet before Christmas.

In his final submission to the court, Storrvik paints a picture of the mass murderer having sustained injuries from being in strict isolation ever since he was arrested on the evening of 22 July 2011.

With his own kitchen, training room and TV room, Anders Behring Breivik is serving time in Ringerike prison. But he believes the sentencing conditions violate human rights. Photo: NTB Show more

In the post, the lawyer writes that Breivik – registered as Fjotolf Hansen – must take the antidepressant Prozac to get through the day, and that he is now suicidal – something forensic psychiatrist Randi Rosenqvist has previously rejected.

– Him […] have attempted suicide in the last period, the last six years, says Storrvik NRK Sunday.

Dagbladet received confirmation before Christmas that the prison allows Breivik to meet selected fellow prisoners in the prison, during strictly guarded meetings.

– It’s not a matter of regular socializing. This will be a point during the trial, Storrvik then said.

LEADING THE CASE: Lawyer Øystein Storrvik leads the case for Breivik in court. Photo: Lars Eivind Bones / Dagbladet Show more

– They sit on opposite sides of a table with lots of guards, he explained.

Dagbladet has also received confirmation that the terrorist has gotten rid of his so-called visiting friend of nine years, a theologian and former officer in the Norwegian Armed Forces. He will testify at the trial.

Refuting the charges

Formally, Breivik has sued the state at the Ministry of Justice and Emergency Response for violations of human rights. It is the lawyers Andreas Hjetland and Kristoffer Nerland at the Government Attorney who are handling the case on behalf of the state.

Got rid of the visiting friend

The state refutes the claims that Breivik’s human rights are violated through the sentencing regime.

“Brevik is not subject to complete isolation (sensory or social), nor has he ever been,” writes Hjetland in the Government Attorney’s final submission.

The state also emphasizes the aforementioned socializing the 44-year-old has, in addition to the fact that he has “a number of leisure activities” such as cooking, playing, library access, airing and training. In addition, he is allowed to study, and has recently been allowed to have three budgies in the hallway.

STATENS MANN: Andreas Hjetland is one of two lawyers at the Government Attorney’s Office who conducts the case on behalf of the state. Photo: Vidar Ruud / NTB Show more

In his final submission, the government attorney recalls the main reason for the strict security regime:

“The planning and execution of the terrorist acts show Breivik’s ability and willingness to carry out extreme actions and completely limitless violence as part of his political struggle.”

Censorship

It is also the reason why the prison censors the letters Breivik writes to violent right-wing extremists abroad, a practice the mass murderer believes violates his right to privacy. In addition, they state that the terrorist has “proven to be not receptive to rehabilitation work”.

PROVISIONAL: The trial takes place in the gymnasium in Ringerike prison. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB Show more

Last, but not least, the strict security must prevent fellow prisoners from using violence against the terrorist.

The court is set at 10:00 a.m. each day. Monday will agree to give Breivik and the state the opportunity to make their introductory speeches. Over the course of the week, a number of witnesses – mainly from the correctional service – will explain themselves.

An inspection will be carried out in the prison on Wednesday so that the court can get an impression of the terrorist’s prison conditions.

2024-01-08 04:51:58


#Guantánamo

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