Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik used to be a ‘kind and caring son’ before becoming an extremist, his mother described.
Psychiatrist Torgeir Husby read out quotes from an interview, which he carried out with Breivik’s mother, in a court on Thursday, Reuters reported.
Breivik has admitted killing 77 people in bomb and shooting attacks in July.
“I thought that he was turning completely crazy, I thought there must be something wrong with his head,” read out Husby, quoting Wenche Behring, as a visibly nervous Breivik looked on at the hearing.
The court had earlier heard Breivik had behavioural problems as a child, and a psychiatrist had recommended he be removed from his family at the age of four.
He was kept under observation at home and Brevik’s mother told the psychiatrist her son soon got over his early problems.
“He was a good student (before high school), had friends … He was so kind, always thought of me and helped with everything possible. He was outstanding … He was incredibly kind and caring,” Husby read out.
Things started deteriorating when Breivik moved back in with his mother in 2006 after some business ventures failed, said Wenche Behring, who refused to appear at the hearing.
“We had had so much fun together then it became just politics … He would speak of an impending civil war. He spoke loudly and intensely even as I tried to avoid those topics,” she said according to the psychiatrist’s account.
“He accused me of being in contact with too many people who could infect us. He ate food in his room then put the dishes by the door. He walked with his hands over his face and for a while he used a face mask.”
“One time he kissed me on the cheek but it was so violent and it bothered me,” she added, Husby said.
The court is considering whether Breivik is sane and should be sent to prison or insane and sent to a mental institution.
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