Family and friends of the victims murdered by Anders Breivik after he planted a bomb in central Oslo and went on a shooting spree on an island holiday camp, have urged prosecutors to let the matter rest, and not appeal the verdict of sanity.
Breivik will now spend a minimum of 10 years in prison for his crimes, after he was given a 21-year sentence. Life sentencing does not exist in Norway, but the punishment may be extended every five years if Breivik is still considered a risk to the general public.
Trine Aamodt, whose 19-year-old son was shot at the summer camp on the island of Utoya, told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang: "I am happy with the verdict of sanity and am also very glad that there was consensus from all the judges.
One of the survivors from Utoya, Siri Seim Soenstelie, her sister Thea and their father Erik Soenstelie talk at the Oslo courthouse
"It would be terrible for the whole community, for him to be able to disclaim responsibility, and say that this was only madness."
Survivor Eivind Rindal told the paper: "It is important that the defendant gets his punishment but the most important thing is that he never gets out.There are many who shared his extreme views in our society."
Another survivor, AUF county leader Emma Martinovic said when Breivik shot at her at Utoya she believed he was totally in command of his actions.
She said: "This means so much. Everyone has talked about how he would be judged insane, and I thought so too.
"But this confirms that he is sane and healthy, something we've known since day one. Finally someone who listens to us and understands us. It is absolutely amazing and feels very fair.
"This allows me to move on. He is doomed, and there is no one who can say otherwise. Now he is in the cell and I trust the police security. Now I do not need to worry about him anymore."
Utoya shooting survivor Tore Sinding Bekkedal, right, speaks to the media in front of the courtroom
Friends and relatives of the victims had previously said they would welcome a verdict of sanity, and him serving time in a maximum security jail rather than in psychiatric care.
Law student Eivand Dahl Thorsen, told Aftenposten, a Norwegian broadsheet, that he was metres from the bomb after it exploded in Oslo. She had had five operations but found it difficult to rebuild her life while the trial was ongoing.
"I've said to myself that it does not so much whatever he is doomed to serve, but basically I'm happy and relieved that he is judged sane. First and foremost because we hopefully will not have an appeal case" he said.
"Then it will be easier for me and many others to put this behind us. For many, it is also probably good that he is symbolically punished for his actions."
Thoresen said he believed that Behring Breivik would be judged insane, and that he was surprised with the verdict.
Ali Esbati was on Utoya last year and survived the massacre. His roommate, Marte Michler, was mention several times during the trial by Breivik as someone he particularly wishes he had killed.
He said: "I think the verdict was correct and I am personally relieved. I thought that a sentence of mental incapacity would have been difficult to understand."
The trial has been unusual, because many relatives and victims were hoping for the same outcome as the perpetrator.
Those who witnessed Breivik kill friends and colleagues have said repeatedly that when they saw him, they believed him to be sane.
A woman lays flowers down near the entrance the courthouse in Oslo
Breivik himself has declared he was happy with the verdict and had no plans to appeal. He had feared being categorised as a maniac, rather than a soldier in a war against multiculturalism.
Psychologist Paul Grondahl told Norwegian media that he was "not surprised by the verdict" although he had previously defended the reports of experts, Synne Sørheim and Torgeir Aspaas, who had concluded Breivik was psychotic.
Politicians across the political spectrum also expressed relief the trial was over and the country could be allowed to mourn.
Christian Democratic Party leader Knut Arild Hareide called the trial "a victory for the rule of law."
He said: "Regardless of the verdict of the court proceedings today have been trustworthy and worthy.
|This case is unique in Norwegian legal history, and the case has highlight various aspects of Norwegian criminal law as it will be our job as legislators to look into."
Liberal leader Trine Skei Grande praised the country's "fantastic judiciary. Judges have completed the process with dignity, order and peace."