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Fritzl children refuse to testify

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Josef F

The children of Josef Fritzl have refused to testify against their father, which could hinder the case against him.

The Austrian incest offender has confessed to locking his daughter Elisabeth in a cellar below his home for 24 years and fathering seven children with her.

His daughter Elisabeth has given her testimony against him and has reportedly given permission to use her earlier statement in which she said Fritzl raped and abused her, as well as indirectly being responsible for the death of her newborn.

However, Elisabeth's two grown-up children have allegedly refused to give evidence in accordance with their rights under Austrian law.

The prosecutors' spokesman, Gerhard Sedlacek, said: 'It is not clear when or if the two adult children will be questioned. It now appears possible that they could use their right not to make any statements.

Fritzl chose three of the children with his daughter to live with him and his wife in their apartment upstairs, while the other three siblings were left in the cellar with their mother and never saw daylight.

It is two of the children who lived underground who no longer wish to testify and as prosecutors hoped to reinforce the charges with their testimonies, it makes the case against Fritzl harder to prove.

Due to a lack of forensic evidence, the charges of rape and abuse may be hard to prove. Austrian law does not allow for cumulative sentences, therefore if Fritzl is only handed one sentence, it could mean he may only face up to ten years in jail.

Friday 18 July 2008

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It is just as well there is a higher court than that presided over by man - and indeed much longer sentences in very hot and uncomfortable conditions!
Comment by Sorrel Rice on July 18 09:35

I don't understand the western legal system at all. It is so obvious what he did was a crime. Do we still need more proof?
Comment by Daisy on July 18 09:44

I suspect this is one of those dreadful cases when the victims don't realise the full impact of the horror this monster put them through till much later.
It just goes to show how terrified and/or brainwashed they must be. They will yet come to realise the full extent of what they have had taken from them. Having just gone through a court case myself, I know how gruelling it is to keep going over and over the same details, and perhaps they just hope he'll die and they can just get on with things as best they can without his black cloud looming over them.
Comment by Tricia on July 18 10:16

A despicable human being, why oh why can't animals like him be punished in a way he deserves. Justice must be done for his daughter and her children, the court systems are so scared of prisoners' human rights they forget those of their victims - may he rot in hell!
Comment by Emma on July 18 11:03

I can well understand his children refusing to testify against their father - my own child refused to live with me after my divorce even though I had the family house which I was paying for cos I had a good job and her dad had ignored her for years - he preferred the elder daughter who was 10 years older - never took both girls on holiday - and he had betrayed me with the younger girl's boyfriend's mother! There are no rules with kids, even when the bad doer is their dad - they still seem to look up to him!
Comment by Cate on July 18 20:28