Locking up a girl for 24 years and sexually abusing her way out of hand. Even more horrifying is that she gave birth to 7 children with medical assistance. The children might be a little corrupted because the father and daughter inherit similar DNAs. I think that this cruel man should be punished.

Tony Tran, Melbourne, Australia

Unfortunately we are living in times where, despite what kind of crime is committed, perhaps bar murder, evil is endured because one’s human rights might be infringed. It is disgusting to think Fritzel will get off with a light sentenance, which he probably will due to his human rights.

Judith Basham, Cambridge, England

omg how can this man do that?that is just disgusting....and yes i agree that the mum probubly knew...this is just a monstrous way of abusing kids....he should rot in jail....
i hope elizabeth can overcome this disgusting ordeal of her life...God bless her and the family

dorris, auckland, new zealand

It´s not only the mental anguish of being locked away for 24 years... can you imagine the pain and fear that poor girl must have gone through! To be raped time and again and then to have the agony of giving birth alone without medical assistance 7 times! This is the most hideous form of torture.

Sorcha, Jalón, Spain

I also find it difficult to believe that for 24 yrs, his wife suspected nothing. Come on now, 24 yrs - how could his actions not arouse some curiosity. As for him, he needs to suffer the way she did. I say solitary confinement for the rest of his life.

Dion, Miami, FL., USA

There is no ways his wife didnt know what was happening downstairs..24 years... Surely she would question ,where he was when he would disappear downstairs with groceries. A mother would never stop her search for her baby, surely you would become suspicious. As for the guy who was renting ???

Tanya, gauteng,

i belive ethe wife is oblivious to this, it wasn't just her living in the house, the other three children and im sure elisabeth's siblings where there at somepoint too...

F, london,

This is the biggest crime, i ever heard in my life. This is not human at all. the animal has to suffer a lot. Governement has to think about elizabeth, to compensate all her suffered years.
i hope that we will not find a second joseph in our entire world.God bless you Elizabeth

Aleen , dUBAI, UAE

Elizabeth that's all I can think of. She's exactly my age and I've been thinking about my wonderful life up to now, all the things I've done since I was 18. The places I've visited, relationships, friends, jobs,career, while she has been living in darkness underground. I can't stop crying for her

Yosanne Vella, Kappara, Malta

His wife had the responsibility to investigate or get help from police to find out where her husband was hiding out in her own home! He left for days at a time as well, she could have had a professional force the door open! I do not believe that she was clueless. In that sense she is also guilty

Eli, ottawa, Canada

It's vital that the family see justice done. While he needs to be confined and treated for the mentail illness he clearly suffers from, I hope that the family, and especially Elisabeth whose resourcefullness I truly admire, will be offered as much help with their mental health as he is.

Kari, Cardiff, UK

Josef Fritzl is a barbarian. How could he do that to his OWN children? Elizabeth have suffered for many years. I feel that Josef should be punished more harshly, though no punishment will atone for the torture Elizabeth was put through.

Dionne, Singapore, Singapore

Josef Fritzel is animal. I cant believe his wife never felt something was wrong. A mother always gets uneasy feeling if a child is in problem. She should have told cops to look for her when kids showed up at the doorsteps. I am waiting when Elisabeth tell her story.

taz, Seattle, Wa

yes, john was right. this has given me nightmares as well. the media kept on publishing his picture. :(

until justice has done i will never be at rest - for elizabeth and her children...

Hazel, Manila, Philippines

This monster has committed perhaps the most evil crime of all-time. His acts remind me of the barbaric acts of the Nazi's. He is the scum of the earth and should be made to suffer for what hehas done. This story has horrified me. I think about poor Eliaabeth and am unable to even sleep at night.

John, Columbia, SC, USA

He must never come out of prison. The children are important, he is not.

If the children and the rest of the family are to have any chance of working through this trauma and beginning the semblance of a 'normal' life, they have to know that he can never control and harm them again.

Pippa, London,

Josef Frizel is the most evil man that I have ever had the misfortune to hear. His heinous crime has chilled me to the core. Elisabeth must have conjured strength, from God knows where. How she managed to face days of endless and hopelessness, I have know comprehension of. She is a hero.

Debbie Berry, Margate, England

He knows it was wrong but he continues doing so. Lock this monster in the jail, it would be INSANE to keep him in psychiatric ward.

Cheryl, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This man is disgusting - chop his hands and privates off and let him die a slow agonising death before the public - the law is too lenient these days which does not discourage these animals from committing these offences!

Angela, Aberdeenshire,

it has to be the shocking since the holocaust..the evilness/badness of this man is beyond human..he is the recarnation of a evil spirit the devil..how that girl got throught her ordeal shows her strenght for survival and the love of her innocent children/half brothers/sisters..

gemma, dublin , ireland

Lets not forget that this man was able to deceive everyone involved in his "real " life. No one ever suspected that he wasn't anything other than an upright citizen. All of his decisions in this case have been very cold and calculated. He certainly is not insane.

rosanna hackbarth, Mukwonago, US

In answer to Alan, yes it is considerably greater.

Veronica Vazquez, Wilmington, USA

They should compare his genes with that of Hitlers to see if it matches. Fritzl's crime is as bad as Hitlers. Cruel inhumane behaviour by both men. The death sentence is too kind for the likes of them.

Mohammed, London, UK

Alan: Yes, it is, and if I have to explain why this world is in worse shape than I thought (and I'm no optimist)

Becky, Springfield, USA

"However, as a Catholic, he should spend his remaining time here begging our Lord's..." -- Henry, Phila, USA

How do you know that he is a Catholic?. I don't think his religion has been mentioned by any media source.

Mohammed, London, UK

Fritzl is not mentally ill: he's evil. He should be treated accordingly.

newton, TX, USA

He is so used to having his ditzy wife believe every nutty story he told her that he thinks the Austrian justice system will believe him too. He's been getting away with lies for 24 years, he can't believe his time has run out.

Victoria Taylor, Hamilton, Canada

If I were Elizabeth, I'd rather have myself killed by my father instead of being put through half a life of unfathomable, animal torture.

Throw him to the prisoners already.

Nicole, PJ, Malaysia

shocking!!! And he has had an imprisonment for rape before, reported his daughter as missed , he has found three children at his door( the grandchild!), and he went everyday to his cellar telling his wife that he is working on his projects already constructing an iron door there!

jo, washington,

this man renders mankind incomprehensible to me,
we have known of hitler, khmer,but what is this?
any insanity plea for this man makes me feel insane.
can justice be served to elizabeth or the three children who never saw the sun?

sujaul, st. louis, usa

This man needs no understanding. This man is smart, very smart. He's going to have everyone beleiving he's insane, when he knew exactly what he was doing, and to know that it was wrong. Do they have public hanging in Austria? If not they should, and let his daugher do the honours!!

Sandy Derbyshire, Calgary, Canada

There are a lot of rape cases in my country. Girls being raped by several men, or by their own father.But this thing is something that is really unbelievable for me. I can't think of words that would describe how I feel.I hope justice shall be served the soonest time possible

Jenny Santos, manila, Philippines

Twisted minds grow everywhere and the publication of their 'deeds' give 'lessons' to their likes to escape justice. We, the offended, shudder and then suspect everything and everyone. This may work as a prevention but also poisons our lives with fear, distrust and shame the offenders are 'human'.

Anna George, Athens, Greece

The word "monster" is too subtle to describe this truly wicked man. He needs to be imprisoned in that dungeon he crafted with his own hands and each night violated in the same manner that he did to his daughter.

Blaine, Baltimore, USA

HE IS A MURDERER AND TORTURER - WHY ARE THEY EVEN CONSIDDERING BAIL??

It has already been established that one child died due to the captivity and failure to allow medical care. Another is almost dead - being kept alive by machines. Every day was torture down there in the dungeon.

Mr Greene, Mission, Canada

I absolutely could not believe that he has the audacity to even try to 'explain' his actions! How could a man like Josef Fritzel exist in today's society!? And what in the world is wrong with his wife, Rosemarie - was she as submissive & dumb to the extend she's oblivious to anything & everything??

Sabrina, Klang, Malaysia

Another worried- father- abusing-his- daughter card. One typical excuse of rapists/abusers. They simply have no empathizing ability to think in other's shoes. We do not need this rubbish from no good human. If you are concerned about your daughter, do NOT search for a solution in her sexual organ.

Vivi, Seoul,

I really hope that Austrian Courts will not be fooled again by this revolting criminal. A convicted rapist, he perfectly knew what he was doing. The whole thing is so sick and terrible that, here in Italy, people don't even talk about it, as if the very thought could indelebly stain their souls.

Valeria Lettera, Roma, Italy

OK, I think I need therapy after reading this article!! It was the the "proper family" part that pushed me over the edge. I can't help but wonder if this woman is going to move to a beach front home someplace and refuse to ever close the windows and doors again.

Melissa, Columbus, Ohio, USA

This is beyond barbaric and sadistic. I love how he has said that he could have killed them, as if we should reward him for letting them live this hellish life because he let them live. One of the worst crimes in European history, right up there with Rosemary and Fred West

Lanie, Katy, USA

To start, I think the homes of families of every missing person in Austria should be searched both on paper and physically. There really seems to be a problem in this country. I was amazed a doctor said that he could not notice anything physically different with the girl who is in a coma. What?

Mary, Seattle, USA

Absolutely Outstanding

In all of my sixty-four years of living I can number the women that have inspired me on one hand. Elisabeth Fritzl in Austria must surely number highly amongst those.
Incarcerated for twenty-four years she maintained her dignity and sanity, all the while being the carer, teacher, and intercessor for those children in her care. Elisabeth, during those terrible years endured difficulties that are beyond the comprehension of most who all of their lives have enjoyed unhindered freedom.

I know of no man, including myself who would be worthy of the hand of such an inspirational woman. May the rest of her life make up, at least in part for that which she has lost over the past twenty-four years

Herbert Dower, Briabane, Australia

He can obviously rationalise anything. Like any tyrant, he thinks that anything done by him is good for others.

Tom, Perth, Oz

It's time Austrian government changing their law concerning validity of sexual criminal record. This is absolutely not his first crime and he was snow- white according to his official record. before arrestation.How many other Fritzls still keep committing the same atrocity somewhere out there now ?

Pierre Corso, New Caledonia, France

This monster should not be forgiven!! Anyone who can think of such barbaric thing is insane!! Doing such thing to his own daughter,,

Kat, KL, Msia

Josef Fritzel should be given and award for the best actor.
Look What is Josef Fritzel trying to do now by tarnish and continue to abusive Elisabeth.
"entered puberty she did not adhere to rules spend whole nights in dingy bars, drinking alcohol and smoking. I only tried to pull her into hell "

Joyce, Penang, Malaysia

That man deserves to be locked away in a dungeon where there is no sun light, however i do question his wife knowledge on the matter; where was she all these years. Is she that submissive? I would really like to believe that she had no part in this, although it is questionable.

sherry, Roseau, Dominica

Oh my God...this man is totally crackers. No funny farm for him. He needs to be locked away in solitary confinment for the rest of his unnatural life.

Gary, Golden, USA/colorado

No, he won't be declared insane. Insanity is defined as the inabiltiy to distinguish between right and wrong. He admits he knew he was wrong. Furthermore, he says it's not his fault; he "couldn't help it." He is exhibiting a perfect case for being declared a sociopath, not insane.

Pat, San Francisco, USA

The United Nations should make a task force to inspect every house in Austria on a yearly basis over the next 10 years.

Ronny G, Eugene, Oregon

How could he desire to have a family with his 18 year old daughter "because she was a great housewife and mother"? She was neither. This is the same girl he accuses of going off the rails, which noone in the world can possibly believe. Don't allow him to continue abusing Elizabeth via the media.

Sheila, Derby, UK

It seems his statements rule out an insanity plea, as usually that requires the person to truly not know that what he was doing was wrong. At least by US law, I don't know how it is Austria.

Doug, New York, United States

@ryan: if you suggest that all houses in austria are searched, then every country would have to search every house in the world,'cause these things aren't only happening here (remember the dutroux-case for example?)

Serena, Vienna, Austria

How can one believe a word he says. This man has no credibility. He is a lier and completely self motivated. Elisabeth is continually a victim with every word of justification that comes out of his mouth.

Alicia, San Diego, CA, USA

He will probably be declared insane; exhibits abnormal perception of acceptable behavior, flouts societal norms etc. How on earth else can such ways be explained?

Stanley Jones, Ashland Oregon, USA

These "confessions" are obviously contrived to lay the foundation for an insanity defense. It has been reported that he is paying very close attention to what is being said about his evil, montrous, narcissistic behavior so he knows exactly how to spin the story for insanity.

Eloise, Rocky Mount,

Nice work rudolf mayer in your attempts to freudian-ise this guy's behaviour into acting out mother lust. what a bunch of old croc. this guy is proud of himself.....what he got away with, fully indulging his narcissistic desires, and by god who was gonna stop him right?

Darcey, London,

Fritzl is attempting to create a virtual dungeon and make us all prisoner into it. All his pyschological drama about past and so called feeling is way to lure us all into this virtual dungeon.
He is no weak minded guy as he pretends instead he is cunning criminal. Just get him into prison

Murali , London, UK

I hope their laws are strict enough - and that he doesn't succeed with an insanity defense. He should be sentenced to spend the rest of his life in the dungeon he created - minus the TV and radio - since he won't live long enough to be punished the same amount of time his children/grandchildren!

Judy, Hazelwood, USA

Well,it's clear that he's insane beyond beyond belief,but he knew exactly what he was doing,so if the layer will try this path and the court goes along,then there's TRULY something rotten in Austria.

Beth, -, Sweden

He contradicts himself - he says that his daughter was a great housewife, and then says that she spent her time in bars and with "bad people".
Bring him to trial. Grind his defence away, and then lock him up.
Elizabeth is a heroine for the way she coped. I will buy her book when it comes out.

Richard Cooper, Dunstable,

He was not the kind of man to molest a child? Who does he really think he is kidding at this point in time. What motive does Elisabeth have to lie - none. He is a narsisist who thinks only about his needs and wants. What he needs is a few years in his own dungeon to think more clearly.

Lin, CT, USA,

Countdown to tabloids blaming his mother, scourge of the single mothers etc.

Jane, London,

The fact that he says he knew it was wrong and that he would be punished if found out ruines the whole insanity plea. Insanity pleas are when the person does not know the difference between right and wrong at the time they are committing the act.

Lin, CT, USA,

I think the world is going mad .Is that the way you can protect your own blood? No it's away of being called Insane so that he escapes the case.

jack, jinja, Uganda

I believe his lawyer has put him up to releasing such a statement to secure him a not guilty by reason of insanity verdict. He is not insane, just evil and manipulative . He even admits that what he did was a crime! I hope the Austrians see through it and send him to jail where he deserves to go.

Tasha, London,

This guy is not mentally ill. He's putting this staggeringly stupid defense statement forward because he knows he's cooked. It's just a naive damage limitation exercise. If depriving children of their most basic human rights for 24 years does not make you a monster then what does.

Louise, Torquay,

What lawyer is this, who gives his client's confessions away to the press (surely for a lot of money)??

Sebastian, Dusseldorf,

“But I was afraid of being arrested and of having my family and everyone out there find out about my crime"

Surely this renders an insanity plea invalid. It shows Fritzl was aware of his crime, aware of the consequences and also fully aware that what he was doing was wrong.

Lock him up forever.

Mike Gow, Beijing, China

Ahhh what I kind a lovely man Mr Fritzl is, protecting his daughter from bad people that way; how misunderstanding have all been. Perhaps he should win an award!

Tom Miller, Leicester, UK

It's a hideous story and any normal person's response will quite rightly be one of revulsion. However, it is important to look at this man's background to understand how his actions came about (though not to justify them). Such people are not born, they are made.

caroline lamb, cookham, UK

Sick.Evil.Shocking.Tragic.Fascinating that anyone could be so sub-human and lacking in moral character. Why did his attorney release these comments? Seems it hurts his insanity plea, because he confesses to knowing right from wrong. Mentally ill is not necessarily legally insane....right???

Jane, Dallas TX, USA

What can 'the authorities' do... search every secret underground Cellar? I mean, everyone knows about secret cellars don't they.

stevie, cardiff, wales

To those in authority I ask this: what are you doing to ensure that there is no one else like Elisabeth or Natascha out there enduring the same harrowing ordeal?

Philip Tempest, Leeds, West Yorks

Oh my gosh, this is so sick!!!

Audrey, KK, Malaysia

Mr. Fritzl is not mad. On the contrary, he has been consumed by terrible evil. There is nothing he can do in this world to fully justify or atone for his actions. However, as a Catholic, he should spend his remaining time here begging our Lord's (and his family's) forgiveness to save his soul.

Henry, Phila, USA

Austria need at the start of September , a new year in school to introduce subject HOW TO CARE AND LOVE CHILDREN, that would be starting point..........
Police shold check every house in Austria, noboyd should be trusted, for sake of kids....

ryan, mildura, australia

How can a man on this earth( a father) think of having a proper family with his own daughter????Sick thoughts!!!!
Josef Fritzl is trying to reduce his sentence. He's mentally healthy and clever, who has good lawyers. He should be sentenced to death for what he did.

Sev, Istanbul, Turkey

Is Josef Fritzel mentally ill or is this story designed to make us think that in order to reduce his sentance or avoid hardened criminals in prison who don't take kindly to sexual abuse of women & children?
A "proper family" I think the word is Improper Mr Fritzl

Damion, Liverpool,

People like Fritzl need to be sterlilised or terminated. They are not fit to run amok the human race.

Mike Hunt, London, United Kingdom- just

People are judged for what they have done, not for what they could have done.
So now, Fritzl, prepare for your well deserved punishment.
Insane? That's a hoax.

Tato Dulanci, Vitoria, Spain

I am sure the Austrian Authorities wont have a problem with it, when he puts it like that. He was just being a caring father worried about his daughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The foundations for an "insanity" plea are being laid methinks.

Rebecca Tito, London, UK

this man Fritzl is dangerous and inhumane- he needs to be locked up- preferably in a dungeon cell with no windows, for the rest of his life- oh, and throw the keys away so he can no longer see the light of day like those poor children he fathered

mn, london,

Shocked me!

Thai Family, Bangkok, Thailand

I simply don't have the vocabulary to express my feelings on this matter adequately, it's beyond me.

James Whyley, Nottingham, UK

Fritzl and his lawyer will try to avoid Fritzl having a llife sentence by arguing that if he brought Kerstin to hospital, he would have been incapable of killing the twin. They'll also try to make everybody believe that Fritzl could have not have acted differently due to some sort of mental disorder

Rollercoaster, London,

Fritzl also said that he was a good man and not a monster because he fed the captives and didn't kill all of them. Surely in Austria there's more to being "a good man" than not killing your children when you have the chance.

Victoria Taylor, Hamilton, Canada