Egyptian tycoon, ex-cop face execution

An Egyptian court on Thursday confirmed the death sentences of a business tycoon and a former police officer convicted of killing rising Lebanese pop star Suzanne Tamim. In a case that has captivated Egypt and the region because of the fame of the victim and one of the defendants, a judge sentenced to death real estate mogul Hisham Talaat Moustafa and former officer Muhsen el Sukkari last month. Tamim’s body was found stabbed, with her throat slit, in her apartment in the United Arab Emirates in July 2008.

Share

Iraqi shoe-thrower’s jail sentence reduced by a third

Iraq’s federal appeals court has reduced the sentence for the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at then-President Bush at a news conference in December, his lawyer told CNN on Tuesday. Muntadhar al-Zaidi will serve one year in jail instead of three, the attorney said.

Share

Austria Hastens to Close the Book on Ugliest Abuse Case

The moment that changed the course of Josef Fritzl’s trial was the unexpected arrival in court of his victim. Having initially pleaded not guilty to some of the charges in the case arising from his 24-year incarceration and repeated rape of his daughter in a squalid dungeon beneath his home, Fritzl reportedly broke down and wept when Elisabeth Fritzl, now 42, took the stand to testify against him

Share

Apologetic Fritzl faces incest sentencing

Austrian Josef Fritzl, who faces sentencing for imprisoning and raping his daughter for more than two decades, made a final apologetic statement to the court Thursday, but added, "I can’t go back and change it." On Wednesday Fritzl admitted guilt on all charges, including the murder of one of seven children he fathered by his daughter. Fritzl had already pleaded guilty to incest and other charges, but previously denied charges of murder and enslavement. But on Wednesday Fritzl told the court in St

Share

Dungeon trial: Fritzl changes plea to guilty on all charges

Josef Fritzl, who had been accused of keeping his daughter in a cellar for decades and fathering her seven children, changed his plea to guilty to all the charges made against him Wednesday in an Austrian court. Fritzl had already pleaded guilty to incest and other charges, but previously denied charges of murder and enslavement.

Share

Austrian to plead guilty to rape and incest, lawyer says

Josef Fritzl, the Austrian accused of keeping his daughter in a cellar for decades and fathering her seven children, will plead guilty to rape and incest when his trial opens Monday, Fritzl’s lawyer told CNN. However, Fritzl will deny other charge he faces: murder, enslavement and assault, attorney Rudolph Mayer said Sunday. The 73-year-old expects to spend the rest of his life in prison, Mayer added

Share