Morning:
8°c
A rioter who terrorised diners with an axe at McDonald's has been jailed for five years and three months - one of the toughest sentences for last summer's disturbances
More...
Pictured: Incest father on 'boys holiday' to Thailand as his captives languish in his secret dungeon thousands of miles away
Last updated at 00:22am on 30.04.08He paddles in the sea on a Thai beach, seemingly without a care in the world - certainly not for the daughter and grandchildren he has left trapped underground at home.
These holiday snaps of Josef Fritzl were made public yesterday, as more bizarre details of his crimes emerged.
According to police, Fritzl claims he locked up his daughter Elisabeth for 24 years to save her from drugs.
Scroll down for more...
Holiday monster: Evil Fritzl takes a snap during a sunshine holidays with friends
Smiling jailor: Josep Fritzl grins during a boat-trip on a holiday to Thailand
During this time, he admits that he submitted her to terrible abuse and she bore him seven children - one of whom died.
At the time some of these pictures were taken, in the late 1990s, she was in the cellar with two of their offspring.
Relaxed: Incest father Fritzl on holiday
He told detectives: "I locked up Elisabeth. But only in order to protect her against drugs. She was a difficult child."
There is no suggestion that his daughter - 18 at the time of her imprisonment - was involved with drugs.
In fact, the retired electrical engineer drugged her himself in order to get her to the basement prison.
When questioned about the sexual abuse, which began when she was only 11, he admitted he fathered her children and delivered them in the grim surroundings. But he was nonchalant about his behaviour.
He said: "Yes I did have sex with her, but I haven't for many months now."
Fritzl also explained why he took three of Elisabeth's children from her to lead a relatively normal life "upstairs" with him and his wife.
It was because the youngsters were "cry babies" and he was afraid the noise they made would expose his double life, police said.
In fact no one heard any cries for help from the sound-proof cell.
Detective Franz Polzer, who is leading the investigation, said: "Even though they shouted, they were not in a position to let anyone hear them."
The detective told a press conference yesterday that Fritzl went to elaborate lengths to maintain his subterfuge. Last week he forced Elisabeth to write a letter explaining she had decided to return home after supposedly running away to join a cult in 1984.
Scroll down for more...
The bedroom: Narrow corridors divide the family living quarters beneath the grey concrete villa
Captive: This tiny door led to the underground labyrinth where the four were held
He posted it from a location hundreds of miles away.
"You can be sure that this man left nothing undone in order to deceive the family, his wife, the relatives, the children and everybody around him," added Polzer.
"He had no scruples to use every possible means to deceive the public and cover up his crime. He was a very cunning man."
A police source said: "He is showing no sign of regret whatsoever.
"He is so arrogant that I don't actually think that he thinks he has done anything wrong."
Fritzl's lawyer Rudolf Mayer was asked if he showed any remorse. In what appears to be an indication that he did not, Mayer replied only: "I cannot say at this point."
Certainly, Fritzl was happy enough in the late 1990s to take the sunshine break to Thailand with a male friend.
Scroll down for more...
Secret: The benign facade of Fritzl's house in Amstetten, Austria
He is thought to have stockpiled food and left the captives to fend for themselves.
Other holiday snaps released yesterday show him on a trip to the Mediterranean in the late 1970s.
It is not known whether this was around the time that he began abusing Elisabeth.
Last night Fritzl, who police believe acted alone without an accomplice, was being held at a police station.
Doctors said he was not showing suicidal tendencies but he is under 24-hour supervision.
Scroll down for more...
Sinister: The doorbell into the home Fritzl shared with wife Rosemarie and his three adopted children
The eminent Austrian psychiatrist Reinhard Haller said: "Fritzl appears to have been driven by pronounced narcissism and a need to exercise power over others - and that may help explain how he got away with the abuse for so long.
"This man must have been insane and must have felt he was far superior to others."
Reader views (31)
The entire family should be investigated. Certainly his wife should be investigated. I cannot believe that there were absolutely no clues over 24 years. What was the guy doing inside the elaborate cellar he built under his wife's nose? Was she curious? And it is not normal for a mother to stop looking for her daughter. Ran away to join a cult? Well then, better find her and protect her from cult exploitation! That's what almost any mother would try to do and would never give up doing. If they can't show that she really tried to find her daughter, then she should be investigated as a possible accomplice, however passive her role may have been.
As to the man's sentence, I can't imagine that such a monster would be let free ever.
- Mariza Cabral, Portugal, Lisbon, Portugal, 17/03/2009 23:11
Report abuse
Lock him up in a tiny underground house for the rest of his life and every so often send a violent depraved criminal in there to "relieve some tension".
- Crommwell, Florida, 06/05/2008 00:29
Report abuse
How could anyone suggest 25 years would be enough to punish this rat for his crimes. If you start with the same number of years his own daughter suffered imprisonment you have 24 years. Add to that the number of years each of the children were imprisoned. Add to that the sheer terror the poor girl must have suffered having babies utterly alone. How was she to know whether he would arrive just in time to be midwife? Add to that the loss of years of normal activities, lack of companions, lack of sunlight, lack of fresh air, lack of choice of food, drinks, clothes, need I go on. He has already led a life of fun and frolic, what he has left should be spent shut up in a hole! LIFE IN A HOLE!!!
- Jay Dee, Surrey, UK, 01/05/2008 16:53
Report abuse
This man should be severely punished. He should be locked up in a small room for the rest of his life.
- Kumar, Hyderabad, India, 01/05/2008 09:48
Report abuse
This man should spend the rest of his life behind bars. He is very evil has no place in a normal society.
- Amanda, USA, 29/04/2008 16:51
Report abuse
Leave it to liberal and "enlightened" Europe to give a possible maximum of 15 years in jail for a crime so horrendous. If he was tried here in the United States for his numerous rapes and captivities he would be put in jail for the rest of his life.
- Kevin Stewart, Chandler, AZ USA, 29/04/2008 16:50
Report abuse
This is what Guantanamo should be used for.
- Emily, New York, NY, 29/04/2008 16:37
Report abuse
This cretin should be placed in stocks in the town square for public ridicule. Will Austrian law proclaim him as insane so his remaining years he can be examined by mental health professionals? What of his daughter and family? Pitiful that monsters like this can exist in a modern world.
- Vincenzo, Essex USA, 29/04/2008 16:33
Report abuse
It is ridiculous to blame the Austrians for one person's errant behaviour.
I have travelled to Austria many times, and I have been impressed by the culture. Austrians are polite, and friendly, with a heritage that is noteworthy.
The country is very safe to travel in- safer than most of our own neighbourhoods. We, as Americans, have many positive things to still learn from the Europeans.
- E Byrne, Marshfield USA, 29/04/2008 16:27
Report abuse
A sentence of 15 years possible? Wow, what a punishment. Maybe they should just give him a stern talking to, instead. Does 15 years sound even close to a punishment for these crimes.
- Mitch, Chicago, IL, 29/04/2008 16:22
Report abuse
If I were judge I would sentence him to life in a cell identical to the one he provided, less some luxuries. Sell everything he owns and provide a rich and fruitful life for them. There is no fix for the damage he has caused..No Fix at all.
- Jimbo, Ithaca NY USA, 29/04/2008 16:20
Report abuse
This is just another view into the relm of psychopaths and how the human mind when given the chance can do completely amazing and in some cases frighting unimaginable things.
- Matt, Milfrod CT USA, 29/04/2008 16:19
Report abuse
Wow! I know that most European counties have gone soft on crime, but I am simply amazed that Fritzl only faces up to 15 years in prison? I do believe that in the good ol' USA, he'd never set foot out of prison again!
- Rodney, Cary, NC, USA, 29/04/2008 16:17
Report abuse
If he is as controlling as reports suggest, even things like the money spent on the 'cellar family' would go unnoticed by the wife because he probably controlled the household finances. I guess his wife just learnt not to question anything. Ignorance is bliss. I bet now she is kicking herself thinking of all the little clues that have presented themselves over the years.
I am just devastated for Elisabeth and her children - imagine living for 24 years in that tiny, cramped cellar. You would think that boredom alone would kill you. Its not fair that even when he goes to jail, he will probably only have a few years left to live. They are saying he is looking at only a 15 year sentence - how can that be fair when he imprisoned his daughter for 24?
- J. Burrows, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire, 29/04/2008 16:17
Report abuse
Even if this depraved human being should take his turn in that basement till the day he dies, it would still be too good for him.
- Jacques, East Brunswick, US, 29/04/2008 16:14
Report abuse
I cant believe the max sentence is only 15 years. His daughter was in a prison cell for 24 years herself not the mention the horrors he put her through. Doesn't seem like justice!
- C Sather, Louisiana, US, 29/04/2008 16:13
Report abuse
So sad beyond expression. pray for the victims.
- Md. Naimul Islam, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 29/04/2008 16:10
Report abuse
I always laugh when the "civilized" world condemns the U.S. for its death sentence...anyone out there who says they are not supporting the death sentence for Josef Fritzl is lying.
- Dave, Washington D.C., USA, 29/04/2008 16:08
Report abuse
And his cell will have sunlight I am sure... despicable.
- Mt, London, 29/04/2008 14:03
Report abuse
I think Austrians all nuts. Fans who travel to Austria for Euro 2008 should keep an eye on their wifes and daughters. God knows how many more dungeons in that country.
- Kadir, Guildford, 29/04/2008 13:59
Report abuse
He should serve at least a year for every year of his daughter's 24 year incarceration. I'm sick to the pit of my stomach with what happened here.
- Marianne, SW France, 29/04/2008 12:54
Report abuse
All that has happened cannot be undone. God knows how many Elisabeths and Natashas are still held captive in Austria.
- East Indian, India, 29/04/2008 12:44
Report abuse
If he held his daughter captive for 24 years then he should serve that in prison, at least.
And was the basement that soundproof that his wife didn't hear the children? The poor girl, not just being imprisoned and raped by her own father but having to give birth that many times with no medical attention.
- Helen, Peterborough UK, 29/04/2008 11:37
Report abuse
15 years is too short - hang him (but cut his bits off first).
- Suzanne, Surrey, 29/04/2008 11:22
Report abuse
I cannot believe she didn't know. The shopping alone to feed the basement family would be a pretty big clue.
- David, Burgess Hill, 29/04/2008 11:12
Report abuse
Why stereotype, is it fare to say all English people are like Jack the ripper? or the Suffolk killer?
- Joe, London, 29/04/2008 11:02
Report abuse
Not all Austrians are like Prikopil and Fritzl.
- Friedrich Grass Dr, Vienna Austria, 29/04/2008 09:22
Report abuse
Put him in the room and close the door!
- T S Green, Little Elm, Texas, USA, 29/04/2008 08:17
Report abuse
I don't believe she didn't know!
- Julie, Essex, 29/04/2008 07:50
Report abuse
"The man police.....faces up to 15 years in prison if convicted of raping his daughter." Is that it? Spending the rest of his life in jail is even too good for this revolting human being.
- Nat B, Melbourne, Australia, 29/04/2008 05:00
Report abuse
We are supposed to believe that the wife didn't know there was a whole other family living in the basement? And...3 grandchildren just appeared out of nowhere?
- K. Tyson, Mobile, AL USA, 29/04/2008 04:11
Report abuse
