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Josef Fritzl, who became known as the ‘Monster of Amstetten’, could soon be released from prison in Austria on probation.

A panel of three judges will decide in the coming weeks based on expert advice. Krems Regional Court spokesman Ferdinand Schuster confirmed corresponding media reports on Tuesday. The issue is whether the now 88-year-old is allowed to switch from enforcement measures to the simpler normal prison system or whether he is released conditionally. “The report says there is no longer a danger for health reasons alone.”Schuster said.

In 1984, Fritzl locked his then 18-year-old daughter in the soundproof basement of his house in the small Austrian town of Amstetten. Over the next twenty years, he raped her thousands of times and fathered seven children with her. One of them soon died.

According to authorities, the woman, who lived with the rest of the family on the first floor of the house, was unaware of this. The case came to light in 2008 and made headlines around the world. The charges in the trial were negligent homicide, rape, deprivation of liberty, serious coercion, slavery and incest. Fritzl received life imprisonment. He adopted a new surname in prison.

In the meantime, Fritzl, who is incarcerated in Stein prison near Krems, has completed the fifteen years required for a possible probation release. Moreover, the legal situation will have changed by 2023, Schuster said. Now it is more difficult to be admitted to the prison where the prisoners receive therapy. At the same time, it has become easier to escape from this type of detention. The decision of the Senate will be sent in writing to those involved in due course. The Public Prosecution Service is currently waiting for an explanation, it was said. (saw/sda/dpa)