An Austrian court has recently reversed a decision to transfer 88-year-old Josef Fritzl, a man convicted in 2009 for the rape and imprisonment of his daughter over a 24-year period, from a psychiatric unit back to a regular prison. The Vienna court concluded that further evidence was needed before considering such a transfer or discussing the possibility of Fritzl’s conditional release due to concerns about his mental health and potential threat level. The decision comes amid public and prosecutorial concerns over the implications of his potential release.

Fritzl, who is known for confining his daughter in a cellar and fathering seven children with her, argued that his advancing dementia meant that he no longer posed a threat. However, the court found that the facts necessary for considering his conditional release were not fully established. Prosecutors challenged the initial decision to transfer him out of the high-risk psychiatric unit in Krems, leading to the Vienna Higher Provincial Court ordering a review of the case.

Legal representatives for Fritzl have criticized delays in the legal process, indicating that further medical assessments, including brain scans, are scheduled to take place in the weeks ahead. The case, which has garnered international attention for its disturbing nature, highlights the complexities of assessing and managing the imprisonment of high-profile criminals with significant health issues.

A subsequent court hearing set for April is expected to provide more clarity on the future of Fritzl’s imprisonment and the conditions under which he would remain incarcerated.