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Fritzl admits rape, denies murder Fritzl admits rape, denies murder
(about 1 hour later)
Josef Fritzl, accused of imprisoning his daughter and fathering her children, has pleaded guilty to rape and incest but not guilty to murder.Josef Fritzl, accused of imprisoning his daughter and fathering her children, has pleaded guilty to rape and incest but not guilty to murder.
The Austrian is accused of the murder by neglect of one of his daughter's children. He also denied enslavement.The Austrian is accused of the murder by neglect of one of his daughter's children. He also denied enslavement.
TV pictures showed the 73-year-old enter the courtroom with his face concealed by a blue file. He refused to answer journalists' questions.TV pictures showed the 73-year-old enter the courtroom with his face concealed by a blue file. He refused to answer journalists' questions.
The trial, in the city of St Poelten, is attracting intense media interest.The trial, in the city of St Poelten, is attracting intense media interest.
Mr Fritzl is alleged in 1984 to have lured his daughter into a cellar with windowless soundproofed chambers beneath their house and then raped her repeatedly.Mr Fritzl is alleged in 1984 to have lured his daughter into a cellar with windowless soundproofed chambers beneath their house and then raped her repeatedly.
The daughter and three of her seven children were kept captive in the cellar until the case came to light in April last year when one of the children became seriously ill and was taken to hospital.The daughter and three of her seven children were kept captive in the cellar until the case came to light in April last year when one of the children became seriously ill and was taken to hospital.
Mr Fritzl faces up to 20 years in jail for enslavement and up to 15 years for some of the other charges.
'Not a monster''Not a monster'
Escorted by six policemen and dressed in a light grey, checked jacket and dark grey trousers, Mr Fritzl made the short walk down the corridor from his cell to the courtroom, where journalists tried unsuccessfully to question him before the judges arrived. FRITZL CHARGES AND PLEAS Murder - not guilty pleaEnslavement - not guilty pleaDeprivation of liberty - guilty pleaRape - partially guilty pleaIncest - guilty pleaCoercion - partially guilty plea Escorted by six policemen and dressed in a light grey, checked jacket and dark grey trousers, Mr Fritzl made the short walk down the corridor from his cell to the courtroom, where journalists tried unsuccessfully to question him before the judges arrived. Josef Fritzl treated his daughter as his property, he made her completely dependent Christiane Burkheiserprosecutor class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7371959.stm">Profile: Josef Fritzl class="" href="/1/hi/world/europe/7945304.stm">Media spotlight on Fritzl trial
Speaking in a composed voice, Mr Fritzl gave the judges his name and other personal details.Speaking in a composed voice, Mr Fritzl gave the judges his name and other personal details.
In her opening statement quoted by the Associated Press news agency, prosecutor Christiane Burkheiser said Mr Fritzl refused to talk to his daughter during the early years of her captivity and once punished her by cutting off the cellar's electricity supply. In her opening statement, prosecutor Christiane Burkheiser said Mr Fritzl used his daughter "as a toy".
Describing the dark, damp conditions of the cellar, Ms Burkheiser said he also sometimes raped her in front of their children. "[The defendant] showed no sign of regret or any consciousness of wrongdoing," she said, quoted by AFP news agency.
But defence lawyer Rudolf Mayer said his client was "a human being not a monster" and appealed to jurors to be objective. "Josef Fritzl treated his daughter as his property, he made her completely dependent."
The judge then asked Mr Fritzl some questions about his life and work experience, before sending the public out of the courtroom as the remaining evidence was deemed too sensitive. Ms Burkheiser said he also sometimes raped her in front of their children, and described the atmosphere in the cellar.
"I went down there twice and there's a morbid atmosphere," she said. "It's damp, it's musty, it's mouldy."
The prosecutor also blamed Mr Fritzl squarely for the death of one of twin boys that his daughter gave birth to in 1996.
"He failed to seek any help", despite his daughter's pleas, when the baby developed breathing problems, Ms Burkheiser said.
"That my dear jurors, is murder by negligence."
FRITZL CHARGES AND PLEAS Murder - not guilty pleaEnslavement - not guilty pleaDeprivation of liberty - guilty pleaRape - partially guilty plea*Incest - guilty pleaCoercion - guilty plea
*Understood to mean he is contesting the wording of the charges But defence lawyer Rudolf Mayer said his client was "a human being not a monster" and appealed to jurors to be objective.
In her introduction, court president Andrea Humer said she wished to emphasise that a single person was on trial, not a town or a region.
The judge asked Mr Fritzl some questions about his life and work experience, before sending the public out of the courtroom as the remaining evidence was deemed too sensitive.
Camera crews and photographers had already been told to leave.Camera crews and photographers had already been told to leave.
An estimated 200 journalists are in St Poelten for the trial but fewer than 100 were allowed inside the courthouse.An estimated 200 journalists are in St Poelten for the trial but fewer than 100 were allowed inside the courthouse.
A no-fly zone has been imposed above the courthouse to prevent news crews using helicopters to get aerial shots. An air exclusion zone has been imposed above the courthouse to prevent news crews using helicopters to get aerial shots.
Testimony Privacy protection
Mr Fritzl has been held in custody in St Poelten since his arrest nearly a year ago.Mr Fritzl has been held in custody in St Poelten since his arrest nearly a year ago.
Prosecutors say he is guilty of murder through neglect in the case of one of the children, a boy twin, who died shortly after birth.
All evidence in the trial is due to be given behind closed doors, with no press or public present, out of concern for the privacy of the family.All evidence in the trial is due to be given behind closed doors, with no press or public present, out of concern for the privacy of the family.
The evidence includes hours of pre-recorded testimony given by the daughter at the centre of the case.The evidence includes hours of pre-recorded testimony given by the daughter at the centre of the case.
Edited details of the day's proceedings will then be released to the press each afternoon.Edited details of the day's proceedings will then be released to the press each afternoon.
The trial is predicted to last just a week, with a verdict expected on Friday.The trial is predicted to last just a week, with a verdict expected on Friday.