July 30, 2010  Print Email | Fritzl faces video testimony from daughter, son
Life too long, no hanging in the Osterreich
Posted by Agencies at 11:27 AM GMT on Mar 17, 2009 | SANKT POELTEN (AFP): Josef Fritzl's murder and slavery trial resumed here Tuesday with the court due to view video testimony by the daughter he locked up and raped at will for 24 years, as well as her brother.
The three judges, the prosecution and the defendant's lawyer arrived at the court in the northeastern Austrian town of Sankt Poelten shortly before 9:00 am (O800 GMT), while the jury was also led in with a heavy police escort through a side door, an AFP reporter witnessed.
Fritzl was to take the stand to fight charges that could see him jailed for life, but his lawyer Rudolf Mayer told AFP as he arrived at the courthouse that the pensioner could have little to say.
"He's already said everything," Fritzl's lawyer Rudolf Mayer told AFP as he arrived at the courthouse.
Mayer would not comment either on Monday's proceedings, as the trial is being held behind closed doors to protect the victims' identities.
Fritzl was already quizzed at the start of his trial Monday after first excerpts were shown of Elisabeth's testimony, which has been videotaped to spare her an appearance in court.
Her statements are 11 hours long in total and were expected to be shown in their entirety during the week-long trial, court spokesman Franz Cutka said.
Just under an hour of further testimony by a brother of Elisabeth's, Harald, has also been recorded, Cutka added.
Mayer meanwhile said that a verdict could come as early as Thursday.
Fritzl pleaded guilty Monday to incest, rape and sequestration but denied murder and enslavement charges.
The prosecution accuses Fritzl of murder for letting a baby die shortly after birth in 1996, according to the 27-page charge sheet. Fritzl says the baby was stillborn and burnt the body.
Fritzl faces life in prison if convicted of murder.
|
|
| |
|