Josef Fritzl case: 29 years of abuse
Josef Fritzl, who fathered seven children with a daughter he held in a cellar for 24 years, has pleaded guilty to incest but denied murdering a newborn son. Here is a timeline of the case that shocked the world...
1977: Josef Fritzl allegedly first abuses his daughter Elisabeth, then aged 11.
28 August 1984: Fritzl lures Elisabeth, then 18, into his cellar, drugs her and locks her up.
1988-90 (approximately): Kerstin, first of seven children, born and raised by Elizabeth in cellar. Stefan born soon after.
1993: Fritzl leaves nine-month-old Lisa on doorstep of his house and forces Elisabeth to write a note saying she can't care for the baby. Two other children are later left in a similar way. Fritzl tells his wife Rosemarie that Elisabeth has joined a sect.
1994: Fritzl pretends to be Elisabeth in a phone call to his wife, telling her not to look for her. Rosemarie tells the police about the call but they do not investigate further. Baby Monika appears at the house.
1996: Twins born but one is said to have died shortly after birth. Body allegedly disposed of in an incinerator by Fritzl.
1997: Surviving twin Alexander appears at the house.
2003: Letter from Elisabeth says she had Felix in 2002. He is brought up in cellar.
19 April 2008: The cellar is discovered when Kerstin, now 19, becomes critically ill. Fritzl takes her to hospital. Doctors call police, who issue appeal to Elisabeth Fritzl to contact them. Fritzl frees Elisabeth and the two other children from the cellar.
26 April: Police arrest Fritzl who confesses to imprisonment and incest, claims later proved by DNA tests. During their questioning, Elisabeth, now 42, reveals her story.
June 2008: Kerstin is revived from an artificial coma and joins her mother and siblings. They move to a secret location and are given new identities.
October 2008: A psychiatric assessment shows Fritzl was aware of his actions during the 24-year period and is fit for trial despite a severe personality disorder.
November 2008: Prosecutors charge Fritzl with murder, rape, enslavement, incest, coercion and deprivation of liberty.
Today: Fritzl goes on trial in a provincial court in St Poelten near Vienna. A verdict is expected on Friday.
