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Court to deliver Fritzl verdict Court to deliver Fritzl verdict
(about 1 hour later)
Jurors are due to give their verdict in the trial of Josef Fritzl, the Austrian who imprisoned his daughter and fathered seven children with her. Jurors are due to give their verdict in the trial of Josef Fritzl, the Austrian who imprisoned his daughter in a cellar and fathered seven children with her.
Fritzl, 73, has admitted all charges against him, including rape, incest, murder and enslavement, and could face life imprisonment. Fritzl, 73, has admitted all charges against him - including rape, incest, murder and enslavement - and could face life imprisonment.
A court doctor has advised he be sent to a psychiatric facility.A court doctor has advised he be sent to a psychiatric facility.
Fritzl originally denied enslavement and murder, but changed his pleas after seeing his daughter's taped testimony.Fritzl originally denied enslavement and murder, but changed his pleas after seeing his daughter's taped testimony.
Under Austrian law, his guilty pleas could be a mitigating factor, but only at the discretion of the judges and jury. His lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, said the hours of videotaped testimony given by his client's daughter had allowed Fritzl to see for the first time the impact of his actions.
Although Fritzl has now pleaded guilty to all the charges, under Austrian law the trial continues.
Jurors will hear closing statements from defence and prosecution representatives when hearings resume early on Thursday.
FRITZL'S CRIMES Murder by neglectEnslavementDeprivation of libertyRapeIncestCoercion Lawyer: 'Fritzl had to be powerful'Day-by-day: Fritzl trialIn pictures: Josef Fritzl trialTimeline: Austrian cellar caseProfile: Josef FritzlFRITZL'S CRIMES Murder by neglectEnslavementDeprivation of libertyRapeIncestCoercion Lawyer: 'Fritzl had to be powerful'Day-by-day: Fritzl trialIn pictures: Josef Fritzl trialTimeline: Austrian cellar caseProfile: Josef Fritzl
Fritzl imprisoned his daughter in a cellar under his house and repeatedly raped her over a number of years. They will then be instructed by the judges on points of law, and given a list of questions to answer, which they will use to reach their verdict.
Fritzl's guilty pleas could be a mitigating factor, but only at the discretion of the judges and jury.
He could face life imprisonment for murder, 20 years for enslavement and up to 15 years on other charges.
The Austrian imprisoned his daughter in a cellar under his house for 24 years and repeatedly raped her.
The daughter and three of the children fathered by Fritzl 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 the children fathered by Fritzl 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.
In a surprise confession on Wednesday, Fritzl admitted murdering by neglect one of newborn twin boys his daughter gave birth to in 1996, having failed to arrange medical care for the ailing infant. In his surprise confession on Wednesday, Fritzl admitted murdering by neglect one of newborn twin boys his daughter gave birth to in 1996, having failed to arrange medical care for the ailing infant.
The other three children were raised in the family home by Fritzl and his wife. The other three children were raised in the family home by Fritzl and his wife, after he told people that his daughter had abandoned them and joined a sect.
The daughter and her six surviving children been recovering from their ordeal in a psychiatric clinic and at a secret location.