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Cellar father charged with murder Cellar father faces murder charge
(20 minutes later)
The Austrian father who allegedly imprisoned and abused his daughter for 24 years has been charged with murdering one of their seven children.The Austrian father who allegedly imprisoned and abused his daughter for 24 years has been charged with murdering one of their seven children.
The charges against Josef Fritzl, 73, carry a prison sentence of ten years to life in prison. 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 faces 20 years in jail on those charges.Mr Fritzl is also charged with slavery and rape. If found guilty, he faces 20 years in jail on those charges.
He has been in custody since the case came to light in April and a trial is expected to begin early next year.He has been in custody since the case came to light in April and a trial is expected to begin early next year.
Mr Fritzl fathered seven children with his daughter Elisabeth in a cellar at his home in Amstetten, west of Vienna. Mr Fritzl fathered seven children with his daughter Elisabeth, now aged 42, in a cellar at his home in Amstetten, west of Vienna.
Last month he was cleared as mentally fit for trial. Three of them grew up in the cellar - without ever seeing daylight - while three others were brought up by Mr Fritzl's wife.
The state prosecutor's office in the town of St Poelten said Mr Fritzl was being charged with murder in connection with the death of his seventh child, who died in the cellar in 1996 shortly after birth. Now prosecutors have levelled charges at him over the death of the seventh child, a baby born in the underground chamber.
Austrian prosecutors say the newborn died because Mr Fritzl failed to seek help, even though he was aware that the baby might die. Mr Fritzl is alleged to have refused to call for medical help after the baby was born, despite knowing the child could die.
Mr Fritzl had told police that the child, one of twins, had been born dead and he had burned the body in a stove. "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.