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Fritzl trial starts today
By Emma Sibbles on Monday 16 March 2009
Josef Fritzl went on trial this morning in Austria, accused of rape, incest, false imprisonment, enslavement and murder.
Fritzl, 73, who confessed to raping his daughter Elisabeth more than 3,000 times over 24 years and fathering seven children with her, kept her in a dungeon below the family home.
His lawyer said he will plead guilty to all charges but murder. That charge relates to a baby that died aged three days old.
Prosecutors believe the baby would have survived with medical attention.
Rosemarie Fritzl, 69, claimed her life had been ‘ruined’ by her husband.
Mrs Fritzl, who only found out about his crimes last April when he was arrested, said, ‘I don’t know where I’m heading now. My life has already been ruined enough. I don’t have any money. My pride is all I have left, that and my family. All I want is to keep my family.’
Speaking to The Sun, she continued, ‘People have said so many things about me, but I can’t speak. I just want to be left alone.’
Rosemarie was never declared a suspect.
Elisabeth was just 18 in 1984 when her convicted rapist father drugged her and locked her in the cellar in Amstetten, Austria.
The media is banned from attending the trial.
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Monday 16 March 2009
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Rosemarie Fritzl gives herself away with her comments to the press, she mentions how her own life is ruined, how she has no money, and how all she has left is her pride. She adds, almost as an afterthought, that all she wants is to keep her family. But what kind of mother does not make absolutely sure that her daughter could turn to her for help, especially in such circumstances. Elizabeth suffered seven years of abuse before her father locked her in his cellar and it is clear that she could not turn to her mother for protection. And there has been no suggestion that Rosemarie Fritzl made any attempt to find her daughter after she was told that Elizabeth had joined a cult. She knew her daughter was in trouble and she did nothing.
Comment by Shulie Bannister on March 18 03:27
Her life was ruined the moment she agreed to marry a controlling, sexually obsessed tyranical bully. She chose to stay with a convicted rapist, she cared nothing for protecting her children and was weak and cowardly. Elizabeth didn't turn to her for help,because she knew it would be futile.I totally respect Elizabeth's decision to turn her back on this stupid, impotent woman. Rosemarie deserves a lonely, unhappy guilt ridden life and the sooner she stops this self-absorbed, self-pitying bleating- the better!I hope she does divorce him because all of his money should go to Elizabeth and her children, Rosemarie doen't deserve a penny. She is guilty by her own refusal to look beyond the end of her nose and for burying her head in the sand for decades. She is completely despicable.
Comment by Helen on March 18 10:46