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Court to deliver Fritzl verdict Fritzl jury considers its verdict
(10 minutes later)
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. The jury in the trial of Austrian Josef Fritzl, who kept his daughter in a cellar and fathered her seven children, has retired to consider its verdict.
Fritzl, 73, has admitted all charges against him - including rape, incest, murder and enslavement. Fritzl, 73, has admitted all the charges against him - including rape, incest, murder and enslavement.
Prosecutor Christiane Burkheiser called for Fritzl to receive the maximum life sentence, after the trial resumed. Summing up, Christiane Burkheiser said the jury had to concentrate on the two most serious charges against him - murder and enslavement.
Fritzl originally denied enslavement and murder, but changed his pleas after seeing his daughter's taped testimony. Fritzl could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The former electrician originally denied enslavement and murder, but changed his pleas on Wednesday after seeing his daughter's taped testimony.
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.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.
A court doctor has advised he be sent to a psychiatric facility.A court doctor has advised he be sent to a psychiatric facility.
Face uncoveredFace uncovered
Dressed in a grey jacket and blue shirt and tie, Fritzl, who was ringed by police, arrived in court for the closed session on Thursday morning. In court in St Poelten, Ms Burkheiser said Fritzl knew the baby boy was ill but did not do anything about it, and treated his daughter like his personal property.
He walked to the courtroom in St Poelten with his face uncovered, having concealed his face with a binder in front of the cameras for the first two days of his trial. Fritzl's lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, disputed the charge of murder, saying the daughter did not mention the infant's illness in her diaries.
Jurors have been hearing closing statements from defence and prosecution representatives. He said Fritzl's change of pleas to guilty on Wednesday were made in an emotional state.
Dressed in a grey jacket and blue shirt and tie, Fritzl, who was ringed by police, walked to the courtroom on Thursday with his face uncovered, having concealed his face with a binder in front of the cameras for the first two days of his trial.
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
In her closing arguments, Ms Burkheiser called for the maximum punishment on the murder charge.
Jurors are due to 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.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.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 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 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.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, after he told people that his daughter had abandoned them and joined a sect.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.The daughter and her six surviving children been recovering from their ordeal in a psychiatric clinic and at a secret location.