Josef Fritzl, the Austrian man convicted in 2009 for imprisoning and repeatedly raping his daughter over a span of 24 years, has once again applied for release from his life sentence, German news agency DPA reported on Monday.
The regional court in Krems confirmed that Fritzl’s lawyer, Astrid Wagner, had filed a formal request to suspend the execution of his prison sentence. Wagner previously discussed the case on her podcast “Plaedoyer fuer Verbrecher” (Defense for Criminals), arguing that Fritzl had already served over 15 years in prison and now met the legal requirements for such an application. “I think he deserves this chance,” she said.
In 1984, Fritzl locked his then-18-year-old daughter in the basement of his home. Over the next 24 years, he raped her thousands of times, fathering seven children with her. One child died shortly after birth. According to authorities, Fritzl’s wife, who lived upstairs with the rest of the family, was unaware of the abuse.
The case came to light in 2008, attracting worldwide media attention. Fritzl was convicted in March 2009 of involuntary manslaughter, rape, deprivation of liberty, coercion, enslavement, and incest, and received a life sentence. He later changed his surname while in prison.
A previous request for release failed last year, with the court citing a high risk of reoffending and Fritzl’s lack of readiness to live in freedom.
