Norway Changes her Mind

Insane Must Pay

Norway's Supreme Court has ruled that even those judged as insane when committing a crime must be held financially accountable for their acts, reversing common legal practice.

Up until now insanity has acted as a protection against compensation claims for non-economic damages to victims of violence or their survivors, newspaper VG reports.

On Tuesday the Supreme Court overturned an appeals court decision and ordered a 36-year-old to pay NOK 50,000 (USD 7,600) in compensation despite being assessed as insane at the time of the crime.

"A dramatic change. The Supreme Court is now saying that consideration of the victim is more important than madness," said attorney Christian Lundin, who represented victim Roy Atle Kirkeby.

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