Dungeon horror father returns to court

Austrian incest father Josef Fritzl returned to the courtroom today for the second day of his trial on charges he imprisoned his daughter for 24 years and fathered her seven children.

Fritzl again hid his face with a folder as he was led into the court in St Poelten, west of Vienna.

Jurors will today view more of the videotaped testimony from Fritzl’s daughter Elisabeth, the key witness.

She was 18 when Fritzl imprisoned her in a squalid dungeon beneath the family’s home. She is now 42.

Fritzl has pleaded guilty to incest and false imprisonment, but denies murder and enslavement charges.

He is charged with the murder of a baby prosecutors say might have survived with proper medical care.

The media was not allowed into the courtroom today and was expected to remain excluded until shortly before the verdict, which could come as early as Thursday.

Fritzl’s lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, said outside court that he did not think anything unexpected would happen in the coming days.

“The facts are relatively clear ... there can’t really be any surprises in a situation that has already been cleared up,” he said.

He said Fritzl answered all the court’s questions during yesterday’s door hearing.

“I certainly think he was co-operative,” Mr Mayer said. He declined to provide details, citing Austrian law.

Mr Mayer said Fritzl has not said anything publicly because he feels “embarrassed.”

Before the trial ends, the eight-member jury will see pre-recorded testimony from one of Elisabeth’s brothers, Harald.

Jurors also will consider several reports from experts including one on Fritzl’s psychological state, one on the new-born baby that died and one on the door leading into the dungeon, which prosecutors say could not be opened from the inside. Officials say the exact timing of each is unclear and depends on the extent of Fritzl’s responses.