12. 09. 11. - 16:01

Incest suspect released

An elderly man from St. Peter am Hart in Upper Austria accused of raping his daughters for decades has been freed from custody.

Gottfried W. was arrested last month. His mentally handicapped daughters told the police he had sexually abused them since 1970. The 80-year-old always denied the accusations. He was released from preventive custody on Friday.

It is unclear whether prosecutors will press any charges against the man. They said today (Mon) the statements the women had made to them were considered as more credible and trustworthy than what they told police officers after his arrest. The women aged 45 and 53 told officers back then their dad had raped them numerous times over the past decades.

Social service institutions were criticised over why the alleged crimes went unnoticed for such a long time when it emerged what the pensioner was accused of. Upper Austrian police chief Alois Lißl said only a few years ago that "a lot of criminal energy" was involved in the case.

State prosecutors explained the women may not know what terms like rape meant while the suspect’s lawyer criticised judicial officials and investigators of doing a sloppy job. He said money could not make up his client’s two-week spell behind bars. The suspect reportedly plans to file a claim for financial compensation nevertheless. The man’s advocate announced on Friday the release of his client was a "step into the right direction."

Reports have it that the elderly man is still suspected of having beaten his daughters. It is uncertain whether prosecutors will press bodily harm charges against him since the alleged attacks could date back many years. However, investigations over whether a friend of the family molested his daughters are continuing. The women told juridical authorities they were sexually abused by the unidentified man in a forest. It is unclear whether the incidents took place and, if so, when.

Gottfried W. said he never beat his daughters "because I love them." The pensioner told the Kurier newspaper he was not angry with them. "This is an intrigue against me," he said, adding that the women were "stirred up" by other people to accuse him of rape. "I hope they come back home soon," the 80-year-old said, mentioning concerns about whether he was able to do the housekeeping in their absence.

Newspapers were quick to compare the case to the incest scandal of Amstetten when it was disclosed. Josef Fritzl was sentenced to life in jail in 2009 for raping his daughter in a cellar dungeon under the family home in the Lower Austrian town for more than 24 years until 2008. She bore seven children of whom one died from breathing complications shortly after birth. The crime was covered extensively around the world. Several books about the incest drama were published.

Only last week, an Upper Austrian man was sentenced to 10 years in prison for abusing his children for 25 years. The unidentified defendant admitted having molested his daughter and son. The girl gave birth to a child four years ago, according to local papers. Her dad was found to be the kid’s father, the dailies reported. The accused also sexually abused his son – who then molested his sister. Judges in Linz decided to drop charges brought against the young man.