Incest father Fritzl to be charged with murder of baby he threw in incinerator

Fritzl fathered the boy with his daughter Elisabeth, 42, who he is accused of sexually abusing and keeping in a dungeon for 24 years in Amstetten, Austria.

Prosecutors are expected to charge Fritzl, 74, formally with murder next month, according to media reports in Austria.

Josef Fritzl, left, is to be charged with the murder of the baby he fathered with his daughter Elisabeth, right, who he kept locked in a dungeon for 24 years

Scientists have told prosecutors they can prove the child could have survived if it had received treatment.

Instead, Fritzl is alleged to have allowed the child to die and disposed of the body in a furnace rather than reveal his daughter's situation.

Fritzl fathered six other surviving children with Elisabeth.

She told prosecutors that the child who died was born with breathing difficulties.

Doctors are said to have identified the birth complication the baby suffered from and state that successful treatment would have been routine in any hospital.

Now prosecutors believe his daughter's powerful testimony will be enough to send Fritzl to prison until he dies.

He is also liable to face rape and false imprisonment charges.

Neither Rudolf Mayer, Fritzl's lawyer, nor the state prosecution service would comment.

Formal charges are expected next month following psychiatric reports on Fritzl and final submissions from police.