Austrian incest father Fritzl charged with murder and rape, slavery

The retired electrician is expected to go on trial in March 2009, court spokesman Franz Cutka said.

If convicted of the murder charge, Fritzl would face life imprisonment. Austria, like other European countries, has no death penalty.

Prosecutors have said a psychiatric evaluation showed that Fritzl is mentally competent to stand trial. They reiterated that stance Thursday but recommended that Fritzl be moved to a special facility for mentally disturbed offenders so he can get counseling.

Under Austrian law, Fritzl has 14 days to appeal the charges. His lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, declined to say whether Fritzl would challenge the indictment and refused further comment. In the past, Mayer has suggested he is preparing an insanity defense.

Prosecutors also said it will be the first time that an Austrian is tried on a slavery charge.

Fritzl imprisoned his daughter and the children beneath his apartment building in Amstetten, 120 miles (75 kilometers) west of Vienna.