Will Josef Fritzl soon be released? New prison conditions for the Austrian criminal will be negotiated on Thursday. He was previously reported to have been seen in the wild.
Krems – Josef Fritzl has been in the high-security prison in Krems-Stein for around 15 years. With his incredibly cruel actions, the now 88-year-old is remembered by many as the “Incest Monster of Amstetten”. From 1984 to 2008 he held his daughter prisoner in underground rooms in the Lower Austrian town, where he abused her countless times and fathered a total of seven children with her. One of them died immediately after birth, three children were forced to live in the basement – like their mother – and three others had to live in the perpetrator's apartment.
In 2009, Fritzl was sentenced to life in prison. Despite the cruel acts, the offender's prison conditions could soon change. There is a possibility of a transfer from measures to normal enforcement. Fritzl will be heard by a three-judge panel on Thursday, January 25th. In addition, reports about a possible sighting of the criminal in freedom in the run-up to the trial are causing hysteria oe24.de reported.
Criminal Fritzl in court for possible prison transfer – lawyer speaks of a “formality”
The transfer is being negotiated because, according to a report from the psychiatric expert, the 88-year-old is no longer expected to commit any criminal offenses. One reason for this is that Fritzl, who has since changed his last name, is suffering from progressive dementia. His lawyer Astrid Wagner is even of the opinion that only a permanent discharge would be considered and that they are therefore already looking for suitable care places.
For the lawyer, the hearing on Thursday is just a “formality” because there appears to be no suitable place in the normal prison system for demented inmates who need extra care. According to the lawyer, the next step would only be about a possible release.
Various people claim to have seen Fritzl in freedom – sighting rather unlikely
On the Tuesday before the trial, the Daily Mail reported that Fritzl had been seen in public several times drinking coffee in Krems, citing an author from the local “district newspaper”. Accordingly, the Daily Mail quotes that different people “independently” saw the man.
Attorney Wagner then also spoke out in public and explained oe24.de: “I knew about it”. In addition, the sightings are unlikely because citizens cannot assess how Fritzl has changed visually in 15 years in prison. It is also difficult for him to walk long distances because he relies on a walker, among other things.
So far it can be assumed that the sightings are not Fritzl and that he will be in prison without release at least until the hearing on Thursday. (bk)
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