On Day 1 of his trial for murder and incest, Austrian admits to imprisoning his daughter Elisabeth for 24 years Fritzl, 73, confessed to repeatedly raping Elisabeth in a purpose-built dungeon beneath his home in Amstetten, Austria, where she gave birth to seven of his children whilst constantly fearing for her life. 
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Hide and seek: Defendant Josef Fritzl hides his face behind a blue file folder prior to his trial.</td></tr></tbody></table>Appearing in public for the first time since his crimes were uncovered almost a year ago, he tried to mitigate for his inhumanity by telling a hushed courtroom he had been bullied by his mother, Marie. Speaking in a thick local accent, he said: "I did not have a good relationship with my mother. "She used to stop me having any friends. I had a very troubled childhood and at times I was taken away and put into a foster home. "At the age of 12 I found the strength to face her and from that moment on I was Satan for her." But the prosecutor at the packed court in St Poelten dismissed Fritzl's pleadings, saying the "real truth" was that Fritzl drugged his daughter, dragged her into the cellar and was in "complete control" of her for the next 24 years. The details of what has been described by one state official as 'the worst criminal trial in Austria's history' are so horrific that the court is sitting for limited hours each day to avoid traumatising the jury, who are being offered counselling. The court was told that Fritzl imprisoned Elisabeth in a tiny pre-prepared cellar, measuring just 200 sq ft in August 1984, then kept her tied "on a leash" for 24 hours a day. He eventually untied her nine months later, but only to make it easier to rape her on a daily basis. In total, he is thought to have raped Elisabeth more than 3,000 times. Elisabeth, aged just 18 when her ordeal began, gave birth to the first of their children entirely alone, with just a self-help pregnancy book, a pair of scissors and some nappies to help her cope. Fritzl did not bother to visit her or bring supplies for the baby for 10 days after the birth.

On Day 1 of his trial for murder and incest, Austrian admits to imprisoning his daughter Elisabeth for 24 years 

Fritzl blames mum for turning him into 'Satan'

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Home / News / World News / Article / Fritzl blames mum for turning him into 'Satan'

Fritzl blames mum for turning him into 'Satan'

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