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Cellar father faces murder charge | Cellar father faces murder charge |
(30 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. |
Austrian prosecutors say the charges against Joseph Fritzl carry a prison sentence of 10 years to life. | 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, now aged 42, 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. |
Three of them grew up in the cellar - without ever seeing daylight - while three others were brought up by Mr Fritzl's wife. | Three of them grew up in the cellar - without ever seeing daylight - while three others were brought up by Mr Fritzl's wife. |
Incinerated | |
Now prosecutors have levelled charges at him over the death of the seventh child, a baby born in the underground chamber. | 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. | 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. | "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. | He has told police the baby was born dead and that he burned the body in a stove. |
Mr Fritzl was declared mentally fit to stand trial last month. | |
'Born to rape' | |
Elisabeth Fritzl disappeared in August 1984, when, police say, her father lured her downstairs, drugged her and handcuffed her before locking her up. | |
Between 1993 and 1997 three children were found outside the Fritzl's home in Amstetten, west of Vienna. | |
All three were taken in and either adopted or fostered by Rosemarie Fritzl, who believed her daughter was living elsewhere but was unable to care for her young children. | |
The case first came to light in April after 19-year-old Kerstin, one of the children fathered by Mr Fritzl, became seriously ill and was taken to hospital. | |
DNA tests have shown Mr Fritzl - who has allegedly told a psychiatrist he was "born to rape" - is the father of Elisabeth's surviving children. | |
Elisabeth, her children and her mother have been undergoing psychiatric treatment and are thought to be at a secret location learning to resume a normal existence. |