Elisabeth Fritzl has made a shock appearance in court to confront the father who imprisoned her for 24 years.
Josef Fritzl’s daughter was present to watch video of herself telling the jury that her monster father raped her every day and murdered his own son.
She also witnessed her father’s reaction to her horrifying story.
Her presence in court on Monday and Tuesday was revealed by sources familiar with the trial today as her father dramatically pleaded guilty to all charges against him – including murder.
His change of heart was prompted by his daughter’s harrowing evidence – delivered by video as Elisabeth had originally begged to never see her father in person again.
The 73-year-old told a stunned court in St Poelten, Austria, this morning that he now admitted all the charges, including murder and slavery.
Asked why he had changed his plea, Fritzl told the panel of judges: ‘When I saw the video tapes I realised for the first time how cruel I was to Elisabeth.’
He added: ‘I’m sorry.’
Elisabeth’s presence may have helped spur his guilty plea.
This morning he branded his own behaviour ’sick’ as he admitted everything, although he insisted the death of his son Michael had been an accident.
The newborn twin died three days after his birth in the dungeon at Fritzl’s home in Amstetten in 1996 after developing breathing problems.
Additionally, he rescinded the statements he previously made about his daughter agreeing to the sex acts. He admits to drugging her, and tieing her up to have his wicked way with her. I wonder where this will end. Now that he has agreed to murder.. surely it’s life in prison for this man, right?
