Cellar father faces murder charge
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Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Austrian father who allegedly imprisoned and abused his daughter for 24 years has been charged with murdering one of their seven children.
Austrian prosecutors say the charges against Joseph Fritzl carry a prison sentence of 10 years to life.
Mr Fritzl is also charged with slavery and rape. If found guilty, he also faces 20 years in jail on those charges.
He has been in custody since the case came to light in April and his trial is expected to begin early next year.
Mr Fritzl who fathered seven children with his daughter Elisabeth, now aged 42, in a cellar at his home in Amstetten, west of Vienna.
Three of them grew up in the cellar - without ever seeing daylight - while three others were brought up by Mr Fritzl's wife.
Now prosecutors have levelled charges at him over the death of the seventh child, a baby born in the underground chamber.
Mr Fritzl is alleged to have refused to call for medical help after the baby was born, despite knowing the child could die.
"Despite recognising the baby's life-threatening situation, he deliberately decided not to intervene," prosecutors said in the charge sheet against Mr Fritzl.
He has told police the baby was born dead and that he burned the body in a stove. Last month, he was declared fit to stand trial.