Anders Behring Breivik could only be jailed for 21 years under Norway’s liberal legal system.
The sentence would see the 32-year-old freed aged 53. Norway’s worst serial killer, nurse Arnfinn Nesse, was released in 2004 having served 21 years for murdering 22 of his patients.
The state prosecutor has the right to seek an extension of sentences beyond the 21-year maximum for up to five years at a time, but only if the prisoner is deemed to be a “high risk” of repeating serious offences.
Breivik is due to appear in court today, and has reportedly asked for an open hearing so he can explain his massacre to the public.
The 32-year-old gunman has confessed to the bombing in downtown Oslo that took place around the same time as the shootings at a youth camp, but denies criminal responsibility.
But the outrage could pressure authorities to raise the maximum sentence, it is thought.
Here’s how many Republican Senators voted to raise the debt ceiling each time it came up for a vote since 1997. (NB: I have not independently fact-checked, but trust the source):
1997: 55
…2002: 31
2003: 50
2004: 50
2006: 51
2007: 26
2008: 34
2008: 33
Then Obama was elected.
2009: 2
2009: 1
2010: 0(via cmonstah)
