Austrian Josef Fritzl Goes to Court For Murder Rape Incest Coercion and Enslavement

Austrian Josef Fritzl Goes to Court For Murder Rape Incest Coercion and Enslavement. Josef Fritzl, a 73 year old Austrian, who locked his daughter in a cellar for 24 years and fathered seven children with his daughter, starts his trial on March 16. He is a monster who needs to be put away for ever and a day.

Fritzl’s hideous, disgusting crimes were discovered last April, 2008, after one of the three captive children, a 19 year old girl, became seriously ill and was taken to hospital, where doctors appealed for her mother to come forward to give details of her medical history.

The three children had been locked up since birth with their mother in a network of underground cells, in parts only 5 ft 6 in high. Authorities say that the children had never seen sunlight nor received any formal education.

What Are The Charges?
The main charge is for the murder of a child, a male twin, who died shortly after being born in the cellar in 1996. Prosecutors say this was murder through neglect because Fritzl failed to seek help for the baby. The little body he later incinerated. That makes it a straight murder charge under Austrian law.

Fritzl is also charged with incest, rape, coercion and enslavement of his daughter Elisabeth, who is now in her 40s, and for depriving their three children of their liberty.

Is Fritzl Fit For Trial?
Yes, you bet he is. A psychiatric assessment in October of 2008, showed he was aware of his actions during the 24 year period, despite of any severe personality disorder.

What Is The Possible Maximum Sentence for This Scum Bag?
Life imprisonment. Sentences under Austrian law are not cumulative, so he will only serve the period for the most serious of his convicted crimes.

For the murder charge, he could face 10-15 years or life. Enslavement, a charge recently introduced into Austrian law against human traffickers, has 10-20 years maximum sentence. Rape charges get 5-15 years. Deprivation of liberty 1-10 years. Coercion charges get 6 months to 5 years. Finally incest up to one year.

There is a possibility of parole after 15 years for a life sentence and after half the time period of any other sentence, but face it at 71 years of age…Fritzl is looking at life.

Austrian law can prevent convicts walking free after a sentence if it is feared they could re-offend. This could possibly apply to Fritzl if he survives until the end of his sentence.

What is Required of The Jury?
A majority decision by the eight person jury is needed for the verdict.

How Will Fritzl Plead?
Fritzl’s lawyer has said he will contest the murder charge and has questioned whether the enslavement charge is applicable.

Fritzl will plead guilty to deprivation of liberty, coercion, rape and incest, which was proven by DNA tests shortly after his arrest. According to his lawyer, At his age, Fritzl expects to spend the rest of his life in jail.

Can Fritzl Appeal?
Yes and he probably will. However in Austria it is difficult to win an appeal against a jury verdict.

Will The Trail Be Public?
Only the opening and the verdict of the trial will be public in order to protect the identity of the main witness, Elisabeth Fritzl.

Elisabeth Fritzl will give evidence in a pre-recorded video lasting 11 hours that will be played to the jury behind closed doors.

Josep Fritzl is in custody in St. Poelten, a city close to Vienna, where the trial will take place.

Elisabeth Fritzl and her six children are now living in a secret location under new identities. BBAC wishes them the very best.

“Austrian Josef Fritzl Goes to Court For Murder Rape Incest Coercion and Enslavement,” is a horrible case and this monster should NEVER be able to see daylight again.