Josef Fritzl found fit to stand trial

Published: Nov. 4, 2008 at 12:40 PM
Order reprints
AMSTETTEN , Austria, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- Austrian authorities say Josef Fritzl has been found fit to stand trial for allegedly imprisoning his daughter and his incestuous children locked in a cellar.

Fritzl, 73, of Armsetten, is to be formally charged Friday now that psychiatrists have ruled he is mentally stable, The Daily Telegraph reported Tuesday.

Fritzl allegedly has confessed to imprisoning Elisabeth, 42, in the cellar of their home or 24 years and fathering her seven children, the Telegraph reported. The crimes Fritzl is to be charged with will not be made public until Nov. 14.

Prosecutors have said Fritzl is certain to charged with incarceration for having kept his daughter and their children locked in the cellar, the Telegraph reported, noting that offense carries up to 10 years in prison.

Austrian law prohibits consecutive sentences, which means he would serve time for only the offense that carries the longest sentence, the Telegraph reported.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.



Sanchez tops Wozniacki in Swedish final (17 min)
PETA protests Seattle fish-tossing (17 min)
Ram captures Hall of Fame tennis title (19 min)
Body of woman, 83, found in home freezer (36 min)
Mom sees missing son dead in Web photo (38 min)
Robbery suspect fatally shot by police (41 min)
Ji birdies final hole, wins U.S. Open
fark
Police use thermal imaging to find suicidal goth. Unlike their vampire brethren, goths apparently...
Firefighters left devastated by colleague's death in pub blaze, shows why you should never stop...
Boomers have found a new way to screw us... with credit reports
The coolest bubble bursting pic you'll see today
Joe Jackson makes bid for care of Michael's kids, who are apparently on eBay now
Obama urges patience on economic stimulus plan, assures everyone, "We're printing money as fast...