re: #144 Lidane

Don’t confuse a medical definition of insanity with a LEGAL one.

Under American law, I’m pretty sure this guy wouldn’t be considered insane. He knew what he was doing, had enough presence of mind to plan it out in detail, and has called it regrettable, but necessary. He knows it was wrong. That makes him cold and calculating, but not legally insane.

Under Norwegian law? Who knows. But either way, I don’t see him ever getting out of prison.

To me it seems pretty unlikely that he will be considered clinically insane, which is what matters. There’s been several interviews with forensic psychiatrists in Norwegian media; I was actually in the same TV studio as one of them the other day, and discussed it a bit with her afterwards, too.

If he is deemed insane, he’ll of course be institutionalised; which in this case would be pretty much the same as a prison. If not, he’ll be sent to prison. The government seeks 30 years, which is the extended maximum sentence that applies for crimes against humanity. In addition, he’ll probably be convicted to “involuntary commitment” in addition to the prison sentence, i.e. what in reality is a life sentence.