The First Instance Court determined that the applicant did not meet their duties as outlined in Article 85 (1) of the Treaty.
Josef Fritzl's Application for Early Release Denied
Josef Fritzl, the Austrian man who was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009 for his heinous crimes, has once again applied for early release. However, as of August 18, 2025, the Regional Court in Krems has not granted his request.
Fritzl, now 90 years old, has been in prison since 2008, when it was revealed that he had imprisoned his then 18-year-old daughter in the basement of his house for over 24 years. During this time, he raped her thousands of times and fathered seven children with her. One of these children died soon after birth.
His lawyer, Astrid Wagner, confirmed the application for early release, stating that Fritzl regrets his actions and has changed due to a dementia illness. Wagner also expressed her belief that Fritzl deserves a chance for early release, arguing that he has already served more than 15 years in prison, which meets the legal requirement for early release.
However, the courts have so far denied Fritzl's requests for early release or transfer. A previous application was rejected last year due to concerns about a high risk of reoffending and his lack of readiness for life outside prison [1]. In 2024, a move to a nursing home was also denied [2].
Wagner has expressed her hope that Fritzl can experience the "air of freedom" for the first time, such as going to a coffee house. However, she also acknowledges that some time may pass before his early release is granted. Fritzl's unrealistic expectations about a possible life of freedom have been a concern for his lawyer [3].
In March 2009, Fritzl was sentenced to life imprisonment for murder by omission, rape, false imprisonment, severe coercion, slavery, and incest. His case sparked national and international outrage, and he remains one of Austria's most notorious criminals.
[1] Austrian Court Rejects Josef Fritzl's Early Release Request
[2] Josef Fritzl's move to nursing home denied
[3] Josef Fritzl's Lawyer Says He Has 'Unrealistic Expectations' About Release
The ongoing denial of Josef Fritzl's early release requests suggests that the Regional Court in Krems considers his case to be beyond general news, delving into crime-and-justice and war-and-conflicts realms due to the heinous nature of his crimes. Regardless, his lawyer continues to advocate for his client's politics, emphasizing his regret for past actions and his dementia illness.
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