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Josef Fritzl sentenced to die in an asylum
Dave Hill in St Poelten19 Mar 2009
JOSEF FRITZL, the Austrian who fathered seven children with his daughter while she was kept locked in a cellar, will spend the rest of his life in a mental institution.
The jury at his brief trial in the Austrian town of St Pölten found him guilty on charges of murder by neglect, rape, incest and imprisonment.
Fritzl, 73, told courtroom 119: “I accept the verdicts.”
The jury's verdict was inevitable after Fritzl changed his plea to guilty on all the charges after viewing 11 hours of tapes of testimony by his daughter Elisabeth.
The 42-year-old was kept imprisoned for 24 years in the cellar of the family home.
Judge Andrea Humer decreed that her father would serve his life sentence in a secure psychiatric facility, as recommended by doctors, rather than a prison. It means Fritzl will die in captivity.
Today's verdicts came after the eight jurors — four men and four women — spent little more than two hours deliberating. The trial took less than four days to complete.
Fritzl will be moved tonight or early tomorrow morning to the mental hospital to begin his sentence.
Gallery: Josef Fritzl trial - the verdict
With Fritzl in jail, life can start for his children
Josef Fritzl timeline: from discovery to conviction
Reader views (10)
The trouble with being sentenced to an asylum is that the PATIENTS can conceivably be found to be 'better', and 'no longer a danger to self or others' and subsequently released. Potentially a pretty feeble sentence for a man that is simply evil.
A bit of an insult to his victims, I'd say.
- Rogan, Irving, 19/03/2009 18:54
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Surely the best punishment would have been to lock HIM up in the dungeon HE created - and leave him there. Food could be handed in, but let him remain, alone, underground, for the rest of his life.....I doubt anyone would miss him!
- Scots Lass, Scotland, 19/03/2009 17:36
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It is ironic,He is 73 & will probably be looked after a lot better than most elderly people of his age;at enormous cost to the public purse.Law abiding persons would not hope to obtain any of the benefits he is about to receive.So he has lost his freedom,what is the use of freedom to some honest elderly person who is struggling to keep body & soul together on a less than sufficient income?It seems so unjust that this monster should get off so lightly.I do not believe in the hereafter,but I sometimes wish their were so that these evil doers could reap their just desserts.
- Ronald Whitten, Chesterfield England, 19/03/2009 16:22
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My hearts bleeds each time i read this story of an helpless daughter and as mother i'll do anything for children to make sure they are protect from an evil that shouldnt be spare like Fritzl. He raelly doesnt deserve to live.
- Grace, London, 19/03/2009 16:06
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there is a certain irony to him be 'caged'!
- Stuart, UK, 19/03/2009 15:59
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Adam; Harrow UK:
Po, Surry has given you the answer; and it is spot on.
Remember also that the State wants it hidden; and covered up as much as possible.
A bit like the Belgium case etc.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 19/03/2009 15:45
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The Austrians want this brushed under the carpet as soon as possible. You confess to all charges ASAP and we keep you safe and protected in a pych ward. All done and dusted and let's forget about an inquiry.
He should suffer all that would come his way in an ordinary prison. Why should he be granted any special treatment?
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 19/03/2009 15:25
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Undoubtedly because he is so frightened of being lynched by 'the mob' in a normal prison he has confessed to all charges probably because the authorities have offered him a safe haven in a psychiatric institution - albeit for the rest of his natural life!
- Po, Surrey, UK, 19/03/2009 14:31
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This story is just so appalling,can we imagine the utter helpless terror Elizabeth felt at various times in these whole saga,when she first relised she was a prisoner of this squlid man,when she couldnt breath,when she was abused physically in such vile ways,when her poor little son struggled for life,and what is so inspiring that she didnot give evidence for revenge for herself,but in honour of her child so that hispassing was accurately attributed to this evil act of neglect perpertrated by a man who was addicted to his own manipulative power.He cared nothing for the devesation which he witnessed for 27 yrs and now pretending he's seen the light because she spoke,he had the access to her views for 27 years.
No doubt his living conditions in incasseration wont match the degredation and squal he imposed on his own children,so wrought in horror.
- Felicity, London, 19/03/2009 14:07
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The psychiatrist who examined him stated that he was not insane, could determine right from wrong as was aware of his actions.
Why then, is he being detained in a psychiatric hospital?
- Adam, Harrow, UK, 19/03/2009 13:43
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