Lycka till med barnen, Elisabeth Fritzl. Om du märker att någon unge börjar leka med sin ansiktshud, så är det bara att leta fram slaktmasken i garaget.

Vi håller tummarna för dig.

-Henka

Three-day-old Michael  who police call a child of incest and abuse  had an undignified funeral: His little body was tossed into a furnace in the dark cellar where he and his three siblings had been imprisoned along with their mother for their entire lives.

Police say the infant was one of seven children Austrian Josef Fritzl told them he fathered through incest with his own daughter. Michael's death is now the centerpiece of the trial of the man who imprisoned his daughter for 24 years and repeatedly raped and tortured her. Among the issues still to be decided, is if any of the surviving children will take the stand.

Three of Michael's surviving siblings were confined to the dungeon-like bunker while three others lived as a second family upstairs with Fritzl and his wife.

Prosecutors are investigating to determine whether Fritzl murdered the baby in the basement of his home in the quiet village of Amstetten, Austria. If convicted, Fritzl himself could be locked away for life.

Gerhard Sedlacek, spokesman for the prosecution, told ABCNews.com that his team has hired a "child death specialist" who is preparing an expert opinion. He said conditions in the windowless basement may have contributed to the death of the baby.

 

Neonatologist to Testify

The expert witness  a neonatologist  was present during the testimony of Fritzl's 42-year-old daughter Elisabeth, Michael's mother, who so far is the only family member to accuse her father of torture.

The medical expert's opinion will help prosecutors decide whether Fritzl will be charged with manslaughter. If he is found guilty in the infant's death, he could face a life sentence. Without that charge, he is likely to serve only 10 to 15 years.

"If it emerges that Fritzl was aware that the child was severely ill and he did nothing to get medical help, that would be a case of murder under negligence and he would be charged accordingly," said Sedlacek.

Fritzl, 73 and a retired engineer, has admitted that he burned the tiny body, but has apparently denied any responsibility for the baby's death. Authorities say DNA tests confirm he is the father of all Elisabeth's seven children.

European press reports say he has already made a partial confession and is also being charged with rape, abuse, deprivation of freedom and incest.

 

Secret Interview With Daughter

According to the prosecution, Elisabeth was interviewed in a secret location after medical experts pronounced her in good health.

All family members, including Elisabeth's mother and all her children, have been treated at a psychiatric clinic and guarded by police since Fritzl released his captives in late April after the oldest daughter, 19-year-old Kerstin, became seriously ill and was hospitalized.

When her two imprisoned siblings  Stefan, 18, and Felix, 5  emerged from the dark cell, their immune systems were impaired due to vitamin deficiencies.

Kerstin was hospitalized for weeks with kidney failure and the entire family showed stooped posture due to the low ceilings in their underground enclosure.

The other three siblings, Lisa, 15, Monika, 14, and Alexander, 12, lived with Fritzl and his wife Rosemarie, 68, in the family home above the basement lair.

Next week, the prosecution will ask Kerstin and Stefan whether they will testify against their father, according to Sedlacek.

 

Siblings May Not Testify

But the Times of London is reporting that medical experts caring for the siblings have advised against their testifying, fearing the children would have to "relive" the ordeal. They say that might jeopardize the prosecution's case against Fritzl.

"It is completely up to them, and there's no pressure whatsoever for them to testify," said Sedlacek. "If they decide to make use of their right not to speak to the authorities and refuse to give evidence against their father, it will not necessarily weaken the prosecution's case. Our main witness is Elisabeth Fritzl, and her testimony is strong."

Sedlacek would not disclose details of her testimony, other than to say it was "excruciating." But press reports have speculated that she accused her father of rape and physical abuse, as well as the death of infant Michael.

Elisabeth Fritzl's personal physician was present during the questioning, which was video-linked to another room to save her from appearing in court and meeting face-to-face with her father again. Prosecutors are honoring a promise police officers made to her when she first began to talk about her ordeal.

After two months of treatment, the Fritzel family remains in seclusion at Amstetten-Mauer hospital, living in an apartment inside the facility.

"The kids' possible testimony will be discussed next week between the family lawyer and the judge in charge," said Sedlacek. "But it has been suggested that the children may decline to give any statement, which is perfectly understandable."

American doctors say the family members  both those who were imprisoned below and the ones who led a seemingly normal life above  face enormous psychological hurdles.

"This case is so unique, we can only look for approximations," Dr. Stuart Goldman, a psychiatrist at Harvard University's Children's Hospital in Boston, told ABCNews.com.

 

Children Witnessed Torture

"This would include long-term prisoners subject to extreme mental anguish and parents who have witnessed horrendous acts in some of the genocidal conflicts around the world," Goldman said.

Austrian psychologists have agreed. "They will never be able to live normal lives," psychologist Bernd Prosser told the press at the time of Fritzl's arrest. "I am afraid it is too late for that."

The four who were isolated in the hidden cellar were exposed to television but had no books or outside stimulation. Fritzl made repeat visits to rape his daughter with her children nearby, according to police.

Said Alice Honig, professor of child development at Syracuse University, of the children, "Their forever is compromised."

Elisabeth Fritzl, 42, who was imprisoned by her father for 24 years and forced to bear seven of his children, has moved to the secret location in Austria with her family after she completed her testimony against her father to court authorities.

The new apartment, which is being kept strictly confidential in order to prevent the press from finding out the family's whereabouts, is the first home Elisabeth has had after spending 24 years in the dungeon.

Her children Kerstin, 20, Stefan, 19 and Felix, five, who had never seen the light of day before they were freed by police on April 26, will for the first time be introduced to normal life after spending over two months in therapy at the Amstetten-Mauer psychiatric hospital.

Details of Elisabeth's evidence have not been released, but it was reported that she repeated the testimony she gave to police during the initial questioning and accused her father for the death of the newborn. Fritzl is facing charges of manslaughter, rape, incarceration and incest but prosecutors said that the first two would be difficult to prove in court due to the elapse of time and lack of forensic evidence.

 From the Canadian News:

Have Josef Fritzl's alleged incest dungeon victims given paparazzi the slip?

Authorities won't say, but Austria was abuzz Wednesday with reports that the daughter Fritzl imprisoned for 24 years and their six surviving offspring have moved to a secret location deep in the Alps where they can continue their recovery.

Security has eased up outside the psychiatric clinic near Amstetten, west of Vienna, where Elisabeth Fritzl, her children and Fritzl's wife have been getting treatment and counselling since those held captive gained their freedom in April.

The daily Oesterreich claimed the family has sought refuge somewhere in the Alps - possibly in the Salzkammergut, a popular resort area outside Salzburg nestled in mountains studded with pristine lakes and unspoiled forests.

The region, named for its former imperial salt mines dating to the Austro-Hungarian Empire, offers plenty of crisp fresh air and recuperative mineral baths "for those dungeon victims whose respiratory systems were injured," it said.

Christoph Herbst, a lawyer representing the victims, was not immediately available for comment Wednesday.

But the speculation touched off a flurry of calls to radio talk shows and some indignation in the blogosphere, where there were dozens of pleas to paparazzi to respect the victims' privacy.

From an Australian Newspaper

British newspapers reported that Elisabeth Fritzl, who had seven children to her father after enduring years of sexual abuse, and her family had left the Amstetten psychiatric clinic where they had been staying since being freed in April.

The Sun newspaper said doctors at the clinic had decided to move the family because it would have been an inappropriate place to rehabilitate Elisabeth's younger children over the long term.

"They're not here any more," an unnamed source told the newspaper.

"They and the security guards have moved on."

The Daily Mirror also reported the family would need the same security measures at their new home as they had at the clinic, where they were protected from the media.

"It was not an easy solution," a source said.

Austria, figli del 'mostro' Fritzl si rifiutano di testimoniare
La casa prigione costruita da Fritzl

Battuta d'arresto nell'istruzione del processo a carico di Joseph Fritzl, il 73enne austriaco accusato di aver violentato e segregato per 24 anni la figlia Elisabeth, dalla quale ha avuto altri sei figli.

I due figli maggiori di Elisabeth, Kerstin 19 anni e Stefan 18 anni, si sono rifiutati oggi di testimoniare contro il padre. La deposizione della madre si è conclusa ieri e alcune sue affermazioni possono essere confermate e avvalorate solo dalla testimonianza dei figli. In particolare quelle riguardanti la morte prematura di un altro figlio, verosimilmente tre giorni dopo la nascita, e che porterebbero all'incriminazione di Joseph Fritzl anche per omicidio, oltre che per stupro, abusi, e privazione della libertà altrui.

Secondo quanto scrive oggi il britannico Times, il portavoce della procura, Gerhard Sedlacek, ha dichiarato che "ancora non è stata fissata una data per l'interrogatorio dei figli adulti, ma sembra che i due intendano avvalersi della facoltà di non rispondere".

I due ragazzi hanno vissuto la loro intera vita segregati nelbunker costruito da Joseph Fritzl sotto la sua abitazione ad Amstetten, in Austria, assieme al fratello minore di cinque anni, Felix. Altri tre figli, Lisa 15 ani, Monika 14 anni e Alexander 12 anni, vivevano invece nella casa con i "nonni". Tutti sono tornati "alla luce" due mesi fa. Da allora hanno vissuto in una clinica dove sono stati sottoposti a trattamenti sanitari e psichiatrici, poi sono stati trasferiti in un appartamento in una località segreta.

 Rainews24

What are you doing for the next 24 years?

Remember that evil I told you about?  Yeh. Well, apparently it's breeding in other countries (not just the good 'ol US of 'A)!  All this went down in Austria and was covered on BBC News and other outlets back in April 2008 - Josef Frtizl held his then 15 year daughter in a man made dungeon for (get this) 24 years!  That's right, 24 years away from daylight and with limited oxygen.  Over 24 years "Elisabeth" would be subjected to torture and incest by her "father" Josef Fritzl.  Fritzl reportedly built the elaborate, highly secret dungeon because Elisabeth had became unmanageable due to the emotional changes brought on by puberty.  Crazy enough for ya yet? This tiny torture chamber was equipped with a bathroom, kitchen area, and sound-proof walls.  Josef would visit Elisabeth every night, bringing her gifts of torture and incest, which resulted in the birth of numerous children.  One of the babies would die in the basement after birth.  Fritzl lead everyone to believe that Elisabeth has ran away from home -- he even went as far to place a baby on his own front porch - with a note attached "take care of the baby" -Elisabeth" -- Frtizl's wife was unaware of any of the torture, she was even unaware of the secret cellar/torture chamber.  Life went on as usual above the hidden basement. Frtizl even allowed a couple of his own children to live basically normal lives -- "upstairs" -- nobody knew his secret.  There is so much to this story I can only summarize, just know that this is one sick person.  Elisabeth would eventually be set free - and make an attempt at a better life.  The emotional trauma of being confined for 24 years (away from sunlight) and hardly able to stand-up (given the dimensions of the space) is pretty inconceivable.  There are videos on youtube that show the dungeon and give more background on this creepy story.  Elisabeth is now 42 and Josef Fritzl is facing some serious jail-time and causing people all over the world to go "What the *uck?"

More on the cellar

The Fritzl property in Amstetten consists of a building dating from around 1890 and a newer building, which was added after 1978, when Fritzl applied for a building permit for an "extension with basement". In 1983, building inspectors visited the site and verified that the new extension had been built according to the dimensions specified on the building permit. Unknown to them, however, Fritzl had illegally created additional room by excavating space for a much larger basement and concealed it by erecting walls. Around 1981 or 1982, according to his statement^[2], he started to turn this hidden cellar into a prison cell and installed a washbasin, a toilet, a bed, a hot plate and a refrigerator. In 1993, he added more space by creating a passageway to a pre-existing basement area under the old part of the property, which nobody knew of apart from him.

The concealed cellar was soundproofed and consisted of a 5 m (5.5 yd) long corridor, a storage area, and three small open cells, connected by narrow passageways: a basic cooking area and bathroom facilities, followed by two sleeping areas, which were equipped with two beds each. It covered an area of approximately 55 m² (600 sq ft). The ceilings were no more than 1.70 m (5.6 ft) high.

The hidden cellar had two access points: a hinged door that weighed 500 kg (1,100 lb) which is thought to have become unusable over the years because of its weight, and a metal door, reinforced with concrete and on steel rails that weighed 300 kg (650 lb) and measured 1 m (3.3 ft) high and 60 cm (2 ft) wide. It was located behind a shelf in Fritzl's basement workshop, protected by an electronic code known only to Fritzl, which he entered using a remote control unit. In order to reach this door, five locking basement rooms had to be crossed. To get to the area where Elisabeth and her children were held, eight doors in total would need to be unlocked, of which two doors were additionally secured by electronic locking devices.

One last thing, Josef Fritzl when asked about why he did it, responded with "I always knew what I was doing was wrong" -- enough said.

For more information on this story - check out these resources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritzl_case

Elisabeth Fritzl, 42, who was imprisoned for 24 years by her father, Josef Fritzl, and bore him 7 children; has been given medical clearance to begin testifying about her ordeal. She has already begun to answer questions and will continue to do so in the coming week. Elisabeth has said that she never wants to see her father ever again.....not even at trial. So in order to accommodate her wishes, all of her testimony is being videotaped so that she will not be forced to confront him in court.

The trial of Josef Fritzl is scheduled to begin later this year in front of one of Austria's most senior female judges, Andrea Humer, 48, who is considered to be an expert in sex crimes. However, under Austrian law, Elisabeth is being questioned by the investigative judge Christoph Bauer, and not the trial judge Andrea Humer. Neither the contents of the questioning nor the upcoming trial will be open to the public.

The actual questioning of Elisabeth is taking place in two separate rooms of the same building via a video link up. In one room will be Elisabeth and her lawyer Eva Plaz, along with judge Christoph Bauer. In the other room will be state prosecutor Christiane Burkheiser and Josef Fritzl's lawyer Rudolf Mayer. Defense lawyer Rudolf Mayer is allowed to ask questions, but his client, Josef Fritzl, who is also entitled to attend, has waived his right to be there. Rudolf Mayer, said: “My client will definitely not attend the questioning.” Elisabeth's two oldest children, who spent their entire lives in the cellar, Kerstin, 19, and Stefan,18, will also be questioned by the court as soon as doctors give their approval. Josef Fritzl's wife Rosemarie, 68, is also expected to be questioned.

In what may be a surprising development, it turns out that Austrian law, does not allow for cumulative convictions. This means that even if Josef Fritzl is convicted of multiple crimes he will only effectively serve one punishment, for the offense that carries the longest prison sentence.

Fritzl is facing potential charges of manslaughter for the newborn that died, as well as rape, coercion, deprivation of freedom and incest. But prosecutors told The Times that since the baby died in 1997, the manslaughter charges would be “extremely difficult” to prove. Even the rape charges, which carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison, could be impossible to probe because of a lack of forensic evidence.

What this means is that the only charge that is certain to be proved in court is deprivation of freedom, a crime that can only be punished with ten years in prison under Austrian law. Josef Fritzl could be a free man after only 10 years in prison.

However, here's the irony in the situation..... Josef Fritzl, who incarcerated his own daughter in a windowless dungeon for 24 years, has admitted that he can't stand being locked up after only two months in prison. In spite of his fear of being beaten up or killed by other inmates, who routinely target child sex offenders, Josef has demanded his right to 30 minutes exercise outside every day. At night fellow inmates bang on the walls and shout: "Come on out Satan, we want to play."

Fritzl, who remains held in pretrial detention in St. Poelten, about 50 miles west of Vienna, now has half-hour walks, protected from other inmates by a close guard of prison officers. Fritzl even told prison guards he enjoyed having the sun on his face during his walks.

"Mr Fritzl is accommodated in a cell for two and recently he has made use of his right to go outside for half an hour per day,” the Telegraph quoted prison spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Erich Huber-Guensthofer, as saying.

A source is quoted as saying: "He usually sits there watching television all day, especially news programs about him. He's terrified that someone will attack him or try to kill him."

In encouraging news about the Fritzl family; Lisa, 15, one of Elisabeth's daughters, was sneaked out of the compound where the family has been staying to attend a summer camp. It is reported that the girl enjoyed four carefree days of outdoor fun under an assumed name with 4,000 other young campers. Armin Blutsch, who commands Amstetten's fire brigade, and Hans-Heinz Lenze, a local official, said camp organizers took it upon themselves to include her after she said it was her "ardent desire."

Other family members also have ventured, always in disguise, from the Amstetten-Mauer psychiatric clinic where they have been recovering to make day trips, including swimming outings. The clinic however remains under police guard to shut out the paparazzi who have laid siege to the building in an effort to photograph Elisabeth and her children.

"Fortunately, everything is going very well," said Christoph Herbst, a lawyer representing the victims. He said they were spending some time each day trying to answer the hundreds of letters sent by well-wishers from around the world.

For the complete story of Elisabeth Fritzl and her ordeal at the hands of her father click the following link for a 5-part video presentation of The Josef Fritzl Story.

Elisabeth Fritzl, the Austrian woman who was held hostage in a cellar by her father for 24 years, has begun to tell her story to prosecutors, in the run-up to a trial in the worst recorded case of incest and imprisonment.

At a preliminary session with investigators on Friday, Elisabeth, 42, was taken to a secret location and shown the rooms where the intense interviewing sessions are to take place over several days or weeks. The questioning is due to begin in earnest tomorrow. Her evidence will be videotaped and played during the trial so that she will not have to face her father in court this winter.

Elisabeth had earlier backed out of an attempt to question her. She had been told that her father, Josef, 74, would be able to watch the sessions via a video link from his St Pölten prison cell and that he would be allowed to pose questions directly to her. She told investigators she was not ready to face him.

But Fritzl's lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, has since declared that his client would waive his right to be present during the questioning, although he still has the chance to change his mind.

As Elisabeth recalls the years during which she was allegedly sexually abused by her father, tied up, and bore seven children to him without any medical attention, psychologists will be on hand and can insist that the interviewing is broken off at any time.

Elisabeth will be interviewed by Andrea Hummer, the young judge who will preside over the case and who is an expert in sexual crimes. In a neighbouring room, the interview will be watched by state prosecutor Christiane Burkheiser and Fritzl's lawyer, both of whom will be able to pose questions to Elisabeth via Hummer. The scenario is one usually reserved for child victims of sexual abuse to protect them from further trauma.

'The questioning will take place according to the state of mind of the witness,' Gerhard Sedlacek, spokesman for the state prosecution service of St Pölten told Der Spiegel. 'We waited until she was healthy enough to give evidence before beginning.'

At the end of the month, her oldest children, Stefan, 18, and Kerstin, 19 - who emerged from an artificially induced coma to the amazement of medical staff and her family last month - are also due to give evidence. They, along with Felix, five, were imprisoned with their mother in the cellar. Three other children - Lisa, 15, Monika, 14, and Alexander, 12 - whom Fritzl claimed his daughter had dropped on the family doorstep, asking him and his wife Rosemarie to take care of them, were brought up upstairs.

As the two parts of the family, who are living in a flat at a psychiatric clinic near their hometown of Amstetten, seek to build a new life together, it has been revealed that hospital staff have been regularly disguising the children and smuggling them past waiting photographers to take them on secret trips to learn about ordinary life and social interaction.

Lisa, 15, was even sent to a camp run by the fire brigade for the region's youth after she wrote in May to Amstetten's fire chief Armin Blutsch, expressing her 'deepest wish' to attend. Her name was changed to protect her identity, and she mixed with 4,000 children over four days and was able to meet school friends for the first time since the case came to light three months ago.

There are unconfirmed reports that Alexander was also sent to the camp. There have been trips to zoos and leisure parks, also following requests by the children. Felix, meanwhile, is being taught to swim in the clinic's pool. 'Fortunately, everything is going very well,' said Christoph Herbst, the family's lawyer.

Part of the children's day is taken up with answering letters from the hundreds of well-wishers from around the world. Otherwise, the family has been enjoying walks in the hospital grounds and learning, above all, to be patient with each other.

Psychologists say that one of the greatest challenges has been for the 'upstairs' children to accept the slowness of the 'downstairs' children, whose lives revolved around a few books and a television set, and were played out in a tiny space devoid of artificial light or fresh air. The 'downstairs' children continue to be startled by seemingly mundane events like a moving cloud or a chirping bird.

For now, the focus is on the investigation. The key decision that must be made is what Fritzl, who has confessed to imprisoning Elisabeth and having children with her, can be charged with. A neonatologist is seeking to determine whether Fritzl can be charged with murder after DNA tests confirmed he was the father of a twin who died shortly after birth and whose body he allegedly threw into a furnace.

'It will be difficult to bring a murder charge,' Sedlacek admitted. 'But we'll leave no possibility unturned.'

If he is found guilty of murder along with kidnapping and rape, Fritzl faces life in prison. Without a murder conviction, he faces 10 to 15 years in jail, which, it is believed, would create a national and international outcry.

About this article

Close

This article appeared in the Observer on Sunday July 13 2008 on p36 of the World news section. It was last updated at 00:00 on July 13 2008.

In a delicious twist of irony, imprisoned Josef Fritzl insists on open air exercises in prison while his cellar children are slowly venturing out into the wide world outside.

Fritzl had kept his daughter Elisabeth locked in a cellar in Amstetten, Austria, and fathered her seven children before police caught him when he was forced to hospitalize one of the three brought up in the dungeon.

One of the seven died when very young, three were never allowed to leave the cellar even for a minute, while the other three went on to live with Fritzl as his adopted or fostered children.

Elisabeth, her children and her mother are getting treatment and counseling at a psychiatric clinic guarded by police since late April.

One of the children who lived upstairs — a 15-year-old girl — spent last weekend "incognito" at a youth fire brigade camp with 4,000 other youngsters and met up with some of her school friends for the first time in nearly three months.

Other family members also have made day trips outside under disguise, the Kurier newspaper reported.

Elisabeth has been questioned by prosecutors for the first time, it has been reported.

The Austria Press Agency, citing unidentified judicial sources, said 42-year-old Elisabeth Fritzl was interviewed Friday in a secret location.

Film of the interviews will be shown in court at the father's trial later this year, Austrian media reported.

Fritzl himself has been making copious notes ready for the interview, as he will be present when Elisabeth speaks via a video link up and will be allowed to ask questions via his lawyer.

And the man who locked away his daughter in a windowless cellar for 24 years, has asked permission to leave his prison cell, saying he can no longer stand being cooped up.

Prison spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Erich Huber-Guensthofer said: "Mr Fritzl is accommodated in a cell for two and recently he has made use of his right to go outside for half an hour per day.

"He usually sits there watching television all day, especially news programmes about him," said one prison source. "He's terrified that someone will attack him or try to kill him."

Al via il primo interrogatorio per Elisabeth su quanto accaduto nei 24anni di prigionia dal "padre-mostro". Sono buone le sue condizioni di salute ma, certo, le ferite psicologiche sono profondissime. Per non doverla far testimoniare in Tribunale, di fronte a quell'essere di Josef, gli interrogatori vengono registrati in video e continueranno così per il tempo necessario. Probabilamente verranno interrogati anche i suoi figli in un secondo momento. Spero che tutto questo, per tutti loro, finisca presto per non aver più a che fare con questo passato orribile!

Austria: vittima caso incesto Amstetten sentita da giudice

La donna austriaca,vittima per più di 20 anni di suo padre, Josef Fritzl, che per 24 anni l'ha tenuta prigioniera in uno scantinato e ne ha abusato sistematicamente mettendola incinta sette volte, è stata sentita oggi per la prima volta dal giudice incaricato di seguire il caso, venuto alla luce lo scorso 27 aprile.

Lo riferisce l'agenzia stampa Apa. Attualmente la donna, Elisabeth Fritzl, 42 anni, vive con i figli in un appartamento allestito in una clinica vicino ad Amstetten, la cittadina della Bassa Austria dove è avvenuto l'incesto.

"Le condizioni di salute della donna sono ora buone e dal punto di vista medico abbiamo potuto dare il nostro assenso alla deposizione" ha detto il responsabile della clinica Berthold Kepplinger citato dal quotidiano 'Kurier'.

Secondo lo stesso giornale, le testimonianze di Elisabeth vengono registrate su video in modo da poter evitare che la vittima al momento dell'apertura del processo debba apparire in tribunale di persona e incontrare suo padre che si trova in custodia cautelare a St. Poelten, in Bassa Austria. Josef Fritzl - scrive 'Kurier' - ha annunciato di voler rinunciare al suo diritto di seguire le affermazioni di sua figlia in una stanza separata. L'audizione di Elisabeth continuerà la prossima settimana e sembra probabile che anche alcuni dei figli incestuosi della donna saranno sentiti dal giudice.
ATS

The Austrian man who imprisoned his own daughter for 24 years in a windowless dungeon has become so tired of being cooped up in his jail cell that he is venturing out for 30 minutes each day protected from other inmates by prison guards.

Josef Fritzl, 73, has spent two-and-a-half months in an Austrian jail cell since his arrest last April. He's awaiting trial, but a trial date has not been set yet.

Fritzl, fearing an attack by other prisoners, has spent most of that time watching television in the cell he shares with a man accused of a shooting incident.

But as the Daily Telegraph newspaper of London reported, Fritzl is becoming "stir crazy." The man known as the monster of Austria has begun demanding in recent weeks his 30-minute daily exercise walk outside of his cell.

Isn't it ironic?

Legal authorities in Austria have begun questioning Elisabeth Fritzl, the woman who was held captive in a cellar for 24 years by her father, Josef.

The questioning involved a doctor to determine how one of the seven babies she was forced to bear by her father had died, said the prosecutor's office.

Mr Fritzl confessed to incinerating the body of the dead baby, officials say.

Formal charges against Josef Fritzl may be ready within a few months - allowing a trial to start later this year.

The interview is being filmed so that Elisabeth Fritzl will not have to give evidence in person in court, officials said.

It is not clear how long the questioning will last or where it is taking place.

Possible murder charge

Mr Fritzl is being held in pre-trial detention in St Poelten, 80 km (50 miles) west of the capital, Vienna.

His alleged victims, including Elisabeth, 42, are undergoing treatment at a psychiatric hospital.

Prosecutors say Mr Fritzl has confessed to keeping his daughter captive in a cell at his home in Amstetten, where he says he had seven children with her.Three of the children were confined to the cellar, three were raised above ground, and one died in infancy, officials say.

Mr Fritzl confessed to disposing of the child's corpse - a twin born in 1997 - and could face murder charges if he is found responsible for the death, officials say.

DNA tests have shown he is the father of Elisabeth's six surviving children.

The case first came to light after Kerstin, one of the children fathered by Mr Fritzl, became seriously ill and was taken to hospital.

Unable to find any medical records, they appealed for the teenager's mother to come forward.

At that point Mr Fritzl released Elisabeth, who then explained the story to police.

Kerstin was finally reunited with her family after coming out of a coma earlier this month. She is expected to make a full recovery.

 

Josef Fritzl, who locked his daughter in a cellar dungeon for 24 years, has asked permission to leave his prison cell after admitting he can no longer stand being cooped up.

Fritzl, 73, kept daughter Elisabeth locked in a windowless cellar in Amstetten, Austria, and fathered her seven children before being caught by police. Three of the children had never seen daylight before being released.

Now, after just two months of incarceration and despite his fear of being attacked by fellow prisoners, he has demanded his right to 30 minutes exercise every day.

Fritzl has now twice had half-hour walks, protected from other inmates by a close guard of prison officers.

Prison spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Erich Huber-Guensthofer said: "Mr Fritzl is accommodated in a cell for two and recently he has made use of his right to go outside for half an hour per day.

"He usually sits there watching television all day, especially news programmes about him," said one prison source. "He's terrified that someone will attack him or try to kill him."

Prosecutors are about to interview Elisabeth, 42, and expect to put her father on trial in September.

Fritzl has been making copious notes ready for the interview, as he will be present when Elisabeth speaks via a video link up and will be allowed to ask questions via his lawyer.

 

Nei prossimi giorni verrà interrogata Elisabeth affinchè racconti ai giudici i 24 anni di orrore provocati da quel "padre-mostro" che l'ha segregata. E questo l'articolo:

INTERROGATORIO DI VITTIMA AMSTETTEN
Verrà ascoltata 42enne Elisabeth; padre rischia accusa omicidio. Vienna, 8 lug. (Ap) - Cominceranno a metà mese gli interrogatori a Elisabeth Fritzl, la donna tenuta segregata per 24 anni in una cantina della casa di Amstetten, in Austria, dal padre-padrone Josef Fritzl che l'ha obbligata a un rapporto incestuoso da cui sono nati sette figli, uno dei quali morto poco dopo la nascita.

Proprio la morte di questo neonato - di cui lo stesso Fritzl ha ammesso di aver bruciato il corpicino in un una stufa - potrebbe incastrare il mostro con l'accusa di omicidio. All'interrogatorio - ha rivelato il procuratore di St.Poelten, Gerhard Sedlacek - parteciperà anche un dottore per determinare come il neonato sia morto durante la prigionia. Gli inquirenti hanno atteso un po' di tempo prima di interrogare la 42enne Elisabeth, tenendo conto delle sue condizioni psico-fisiche. Solo dopo verrà interrogato Josef Fritzl. Le autorità sperano di ottenere delle accuse formali contro Josef Frizl entro pochi mesi, il che permetterebbe di avviare un processo entro la fine dell'anno, secondo Sedlacek.

E quello che non capisco (scusate la mia ignoranza!!) è perchè si scrive "potrebbe incastrare il mostro con l'accusa di omicidio"... Tutto quello che ha fatto a sua figlia per 24 anni e la vita negata a quei ragazzi nati dall'incesto non bastano a dargli il carcere a vita?? non è già "incastrato" per questo?? Nel frattempo la notizia della vendita di un pallone usato nella finale "europei-2008" per 5.mila euro che verranno devoluti proprio alle vittime di Fritzl ci fà sentire un pò tutti vicini a questa donna ed ai suoi figli. Ma le mostruosità di Fritzl non finiscono neanche ora che è in carcere! Da qui si viene a sapere che la "bestia" sta scrivendo un racconto proprio su questi 24 anni di incesto per poi venderne la storia al miglior offerente!! Fritzl non è neanche una bestia... è molto molto meno e merita molto molto molto e di più di ogni male!

Fritzl, 73, has already confessed to imprisoning his daughter Elisabeth, 42, in the cellar in his home in Amstetten, Austria, and fathering her seven children.

He is facing potential charges of rape, incarceration, incest and manslaughter, as one of the children died shortly after birth in 1997 and Fritzl burned his body in an incinerator.

However, unlike in Britain and America, the Austrian penal code does not allow for cumulated convictions, meaning Fritzl will only serve the punishment for the offence that carries the longest prison sentence.

And according to prosecutors, manslaughter and the rape charges will be difficult to prove due to the elapse of time and lack of evidence.

The only charge Fritzl is certain to face is incarceration, for having kept his daughter and their children in the dank cellar for 24 years, an offence that can only be sentenced with 10 years in prison in Austria.

A spokesman for the prosecution said: "Manslaughter will be very difficult to prove as there is no forensic or any other kind of evidence available since the suspected crime happened many years ago.

"Such charges would require evidence that the suspect acted with premeditation and that he knew there was danger of the newborn dying after birth."

"The charges of rape will also be difficult to prove, due to the absence of any objective evidence and would therefore probably only be based on the statement of the victim, who has not yet given evidence to the prosecutors."

 

[polldaddy poll="774066"]

Austrian incest victim Elisabeth Fritzl will be questioned by a public prosecutor for the first time in mid-July, after her doctors gave the green light, a spokesman for the prosecution said today.

The 42-year-old woman had been incarcerated and repeatedly raped by her father Josef for over 24 years. During her time in the dungeon below her family home in Amstetten, Elisabeth Fritzl gave birth to seven children, one of whom died shortly after birth.

A medical expert specialised in the health of newborn babies would also attend the interview, Sedlacek said, "in order to ask questions about the state of the newborn".

If judicial authorities determine that Josef Fritzl, 73, neglected to provide medical care for the dead child, he might be charged with murder, in addition to rape and illegal restraint.

Read the rest at http://www.smh.com.au/news/world/doctors-to-allow-questioning-of-austrian-incest-victim/2008/07/09/1215282932108.html

She was initally too traumatized to give a full statement, but has now made enough progress to talk about her ordeal.

One piece of evidence the police are extremely interested in is the death of one of her twins.

Daddy dearest left Elisabeth alone for three days after she gave birth to them, and Elisabeth's statement will determine whether Fritzl will be charged with murder.

From the AP:

VIENNA, Austria (AP) — Questioning of an incest victim held in a cellar for 24 years is set to start later this month and will involve a doctor to determine how one of the seven babies she had with her father died, a prosecutor said Tuesday.

St. Poelten prosecutor Gerhard Sedlacek also said authorities hope to have formal charges against Josef Fritzl ready within a few months, which would allow a trial to start before the end of the year.

Fritzl has told investigators he fathered his daughter Elizabeth's seven children; three raised in a cellar at his home in Amstetten, three brought up above ground, and one who died in infancy, officials said. DNA tests confirmed he is the biological father of the six surviving children.

Authorities say Fritzl confessed to incinerating the corpse of the dead baby, identified as one of a pair of twins born in 1997. He could face murder charges if it turns out he was responsible for its death, Sedlacek said.

Sedlacek says Elisabeth's questioning by a judge will take place in a special room at an undisclosed location. Her answers will be transmitted via video to the defense and she will not have to face her father unless she specifically requests to do so.

At least two days are set aside for the questioning, Sedlacek said.

Fritzl and his wife raised three of the children he fathered with his daughter after Fritzl claimed Elisabeth left them at the doorstep of the family's home. Authorities say the other three were confined underground.

From NINEmsn:

Fritzl, 74, is writing his memoirs in prison and is planning to sell his story to the highest bidder, UK's Sunday Mirror reports.

Elisabeth, 42 – who was repeatedly raped by her father and gave birth to seven of his children while locked in the family cellar – is reported to be horrified.

Fritzl's plans to sell his story have been condemned by Elisabeth's lawyer Eva Plaz.

“It has been bad enough with all the leaks from doctors and police sources about Elisabeth," Ms Plaz was quoted by The Sun newspaper as saying.

“But that her father, who caused all her suffering, means to cash in on her ordeal is sickening.”

Elisabeth – who is recovering from her ordeal in a psychiatric clinic in Austria – has said she just wants to live the remainder of her days in privacy.

“She is appalled. It is like being violated all over again," The Sun quotes a source close to her as saying.

Ms Plaz said Fritzl's story would be worth a lot of money because Elisabeth had made it clear she didn't want to sell hers.

Elisabeth was drugged and dragged into Fritzl's secret cellar in 1984, when she was 18.

She finally escaped in April when her eldest child Kerstin, 19, fell seriously ill and had to be taken to hospital.

Fritzl is yet to be charged or put on trial for his crimes, but police say he has admitted to raping Elisabeth and holding her prisoner.

It seems Elisabeth has had no idea until now, the amount of details that the police and others associated with the case have released to the public.  No doubt she's pissed, hurt, and feeling violated again.  I hope this squashes all the talk about her giving an interview, because clearly, having the media involved in her life, or her past ordeal, is the last thing she is looking for:

http://news.scotsman.com/world/Fritzl-incest--victim-.4261118.jp

I don't know if this is true... but according to The UK Mirror, Josef Fritzl is, apparently, sitting in his prison cell penning his memoirs! 

The article says Fritzl spends hours writing, as fellow prisoners shout, "Come out Satan. We want to play."

A source quoted by The Mirror said:

"Elisabeth is appalled. It is like being violated all over again. He knows his story is worth a lot, because she has made it clear she does not want to sell hers."

No kidding.

But I'm quite certain criminals are not allowed to profit from their crimes. Perhaps in Austria this doesn't apply?

[photo source: thesun.co.uk]

{image from Vienna-based photographer Jacqueline Godany's website; see Nobel Prize acceptance/monologue video with subtitles here}

Read: "Up from the Cellar" by Nicholas Spice in LRB (Spice on Jelinek on Fritzl)

Elfriede Jelinek's website, from which the selection of "The Foresaken Place" (translated by  Margarete Lamb-Faffelberger) is taken:

Austria is a small world in which the great one holds its rehearsals. In the even smaller dungeon of Amstetten, the performance takes place, daily, nightly. No performance is cancelled for any reason. Even giving birth is part of the daily routine and the performance. Actually only performances can occur here. No Iron Curtain, not even iron rods, bars are needed, because we built the concrete door cast between two steel plates, this seal is tight, it holds forever, the electronic equipment also lasts especially when the batteries are nicely replaced (it must have been cast down below, that huge plug of a door, one couldn't have hauled it downstairs as a single person), bars aren't needed where concrete doors are installed, bars could allow an outlook, which, constantly crossed out, would be more than no light at all, therefore it doesn't apply at all, not one bit: beyond a thousand bars no world. Here counts the word of the Father, who's actually already Grandfather, nothing special, Fathers and Grandfathers exist in one person, the Holy Trinity does also exist, one in three persons, here we have the Grandfather, who is all persons and executes all speaking (with the exception of the television set and the radio that were permitted down there). No bars, no iron rods exist here...