This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
OSLO, Norway • Far-right gunman Anders Behring Breivik stuck to his decision not to appeal a terror conviction and prison sentence Friday, formally closing the legal proceedings for Norway's worst peacetime massacre.
Breivik, whose bomb and shooting attacks shocked Norway on July 22 last year, was sentenced two weeks ago to a 21-year prison term that can be extended for as long as the self-described "militant nationalist" is considered a danger to society.
The 33-year-old Norwergian told the court at the time that he wouldn't challenge the ruling and had not changed his mind on Friday, the last day of the appeals period, defense lawyer Geir Lippestad said.
"There is no doubt that the July 22 case is over today," Lippestad told reporters after meeting his client in prison.
Breivik set off a bomb that killed eight people and injured more than 200 in Oslo's government district, before opening fire at the left-leaning Labor Party's annual youth camp, killing 69, most of them teenagers, on Utoya island.
Throughout his trial, he showed no remorse and accused his victims of betraying Norway by embracing a multicultural society.
Many outside observers were bewildered by the court's painstaking efforts to make sure Breivik was treated no differently than any other defendant, even though he didn't even recognize the authority of the court.
Prosecutors politely shook his hand before hearings. On the stand, he was given several opportunities to explain his radical anti-Muslim views.
"All these things that we think are so important to support the rule of law, the rest of the world found odd," Lippestad said. "I am very proud of Norway and the way Norway has resolved this."