Austrian incest father Fritzl charged with murder

Fritzl in den internationalen Medien, z.B. Associated press und CNN international.
The murder charge stems from the death of Fritzl's infant son, Michael Fritzl, who died from lack of medical care, the prosecutor said. Watch as Fritzl is charged with murder »

The trial is expected to begin early in 2009 and if convicted of murder Fritzl could face 10 to 20 years in prison. Austria, like other European countries, has no death penalty.

Prosecutors say psychiatric tests show that Fritzl is mentally fit to stand trial but Sedlacek has asked that Fritzl be confined to a "mental asylum."

Fritzl kept the daughter and all but three of the children in a cellar beneath his home in Amstetten, Austria, west of Vienna, officials say.

Three of the children lived upstairs in the home Fritzl shared with his wife and several of their own children.

Fritzl has been in custody since the case came to light in April, sparking worldwide attention.