Post date: Aug 19, 2011 6:49:36 PM
Norwegian court orders mass killer Anders Behring Breivik to remain in solitary confinement for another four weeks as Breivik refers to his isolation as "sadistic torture".
OSLO, NORWAY (AUGUST 19, 2011) REUTERS - Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik will remain in solitary confinement for the next four weeks despite his complaints that this constitutes "sadistic torture", a judge ordered on Friday (August 19).
Breivik has admitted killing 77 people on July 22, including eight in a bombing in Oslo that destroyed the Norwegian government's headquarters and damaged surrounding buildings.
"The accused describes his isolation as boring and monotonous, and as a sadistic method of torture," judge Hugo Abelseth told a news conference at the Oslo court house.
He said 32-year old Breivik would nevertheless stay isolated in prison until September 19 as there was otherwise a danger that evidence in the case could be tampered with.
Police have still not ruled out the possibility of accomplices to the crime and are keen to prevent Breivik from communicating with the outside world.
"The court has decided to extend it [the isolation] because police are worried he [Breivik] will tamper with police evidence and the court agrees," the judge added.
Under Norwegian rules, Breivik will likely remain in prison until he goes to trial in a year, but the conditions under which he is held may at some point be relaxed.
The killer had asked to wear white tie and tails at the hearing to "show he was taking court proceedings seriously", according to court documents, but his request was denied on the grounds that this would be "unnecessarily disturbing and offensive."