This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/europe/7952018.stm
The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Fritzl jury considers its verdict | Fritzl jury considers its verdict |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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 the charges against him - including rape, incest, murder and enslavement. | Fritzl, 73, has admitted all the charges against him - including rape, incest, murder and enslavement. |
| Speaking to the jury, Fritzl said: "I regret from the bottom of my heart what I've done to my family." | Speaking to the jury, Fritzl said: "I regret from the bottom of my heart what I've done to my family." |
| "Unfortunately I cannot undo what I did. I can only try to limit the damage done as best as I can," he said. | "Unfortunately I cannot undo what I did. I can only try to limit the damage done as best as I can," he said. |
| The former electrician could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. | The former electrician could face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. |
| He originally denied enslavement and murder, but changed his pleas on Wednesday after seeing his daughter's taped testimony. | He originally denied enslavement and murder, but changed his pleas on Wednesday after seeing his daughter's taped testimony. |
| A court doctor has advised he be sent to a psychiatric facility. | A court doctor has advised he be sent to a psychiatric facility. |
| Plea change | Plea change |
| In court in St Poelten, prosecutor Christiane Burkheiser said the jury must concentrate on the most serious charges against him - murder and enslavement. | In court in St Poelten, prosecutor Christiane Burkheiser said the jury must concentrate on the most serious charges against him - murder and enslavement. |
| She said Fritzl knew the baby who died in the cellar was in danger of dying and yet he did not seek help. | She said Fritzl knew the baby who died in the cellar was in danger of dying and yet he did not seek help. |
| FRITZL'S ADMISSIONS 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 | |
| She said he treated his daughter as his property - raping, imprisoning and abusing her. | She said he treated his daughter as his property - raping, imprisoning and abusing her. |
| Fritzl's lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, said his change of plea to guilty on Wednesday had been made in an emotional state. | Fritzl's lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, said his change of plea to guilty on Wednesday had been made in an emotional state. |
| He also confirmed that his client's daughter had been in court watching proceedings earlier this week. | He also confirmed that his client's daughter had been in court watching proceedings earlier this week. |
| The lawyer for Fritzl's daughter, Eva Plaz, told the jury they could either believe her client or Josef Fritzl. | The lawyer for Fritzl's daughter, Eva Plaz, told the jury they could either believe her client or Josef Fritzl. |
| She said Fritzl had always known he was guilty of the baby's death. | She said Fritzl had always known he was guilty of the baby's death. |
| 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. |
| Face uncovered | Face uncovered |
| 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. | 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 psychiatrist Dr Heidi Kastner speaks to the BBC's Newsnight programme | Fritzl's psychiatrist Dr Heidi Kastner speaks to the BBC's Newsnight programme |
| 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. |