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Austrians question cellar captive | Austrians question cellar captive |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Prosecutors in Austria have questioned Elisabeth Fritzl, the woman who was held captive in a cellar for 24 years by her father, Josef. | |
The questioning involved a doctor to determine how one of the seven babies she was forced to bear by her father had died, said the prosecutor's office. | The questioning involved a doctor to determine how one of the seven babies she was forced to bear by her father had died, said the prosecutor's office. |
Mr Fritzl confessed to incinerating the body of the dead baby, officials say. | Mr Fritzl confessed to incinerating the body of the dead baby, officials say. |
Formal charges against Josef Fritzl may be ready within a few months - allowing a trial to start later this year. | Formal charges against Josef Fritzl may be ready within a few months - allowing a trial to start later this year. |
The interview was filmed so that Elisabeth Fritzl would not have to give evidence in person at her father's eventual trial, officials said. | |
She is expected to be questioned again next week, the Austrian news agency Apa said, citing court sources. | |
Possible murder charge | Possible murder charge |
Mr Fritzl is being held in pre-trial detention in St Poelten, 80 km (50 miles) west of the capital, Vienna. | Mr Fritzl is being held in pre-trial detention in St Poelten, 80 km (50 miles) west of the capital, Vienna. |
His alleged victims, including Elisabeth, 42, are undergoing treatment at a psychiatric hospital. | |
Elisabeth and her children spent years in a windowless cellar | |
Prosecutors say Mr Fritzl has confessed to keeping his daughter captive in a cell at his home in Amstetten, where he says he had seven children with her. | |
Three of the children were confined to the cellar, three were raised above ground, and one died in infancy, officials say. | Three of the children were confined to the cellar, three were raised above ground, and one died in infancy, officials say. |
Mr Fritzl confessed to disposing of the child's corpse - a twin born in 1997 - and could face murder charges if he is found responsible for the death, officials say. | Mr Fritzl confessed to disposing of the child's corpse - a twin born in 1997 - and could face murder charges if he is found responsible for the death, officials say. |
DNA tests have shown he is the father of Elisabeth's six surviving children. | DNA tests have shown he is the father of Elisabeth's six surviving children. |
The case first came to light after Kerstin, one of the children fathered by Mr Fritzl, became seriously ill and was taken to hospital. | The case first came to light after Kerstin, one of the children fathered by Mr Fritzl, became seriously ill and was taken to hospital. |
Unable to find any medical records, they appealed for the teenager's mother to come forward. | Unable to find any medical records, they appealed for the teenager's mother to come forward. |
At that point Mr Fritzl released Elisabeth, who then explained the story to police. | At that point Mr Fritzl released Elisabeth, who then explained the story to police. |
Kerstin was finally reunited with her family after coming out of a coma earlier this month. She is expected to make a full recovery. | Kerstin was finally reunited with her family after coming out of a coma earlier this month. She is expected to make a full recovery. |