Prosecutors allege he was responsible for the death of a new-born in 1996 by failing to seek help even though he was aware that the baby might die. If proved, the charge could carry a sentence of life imprisonment.

Fritzl, 73, had told police that the child, one of twins, had been still-born and that he had burned the body in a wood-fired boiler in the cellar.

But an expert appointed by the court concluded, after talking to Fritzl's captive daughter Elisabeth, that the new-born could have been saved if it had been given proper medical care.

Elisabeth, 42, gave birth to seven children during her captivity, three of whom remained with her in the cellar, never seeing daylight, while three more were brought upstairs to live with Fritzl and his wife Rosemarie, unaware that their siblings and mother were held captive underground.

Days after the case came to light in late April, Josef Fritzl made a full confession, denying however that he had killed one of the babies.

Fritzl has also been charged with rape and sequestration, which carry a maximum sentence of 15 years in jail.

His trial is not expected to begin before late January 2009, the president of the court in Sankt Poelten, where the trial will be held, told the Austrian daily Kurier Thursday.

Judicial sources cited by the Austria Press Agency meanwhile noted that it could start in March.

Fritzl's lawyer, Rudolf Mayer, said Wednesday afternoon that he had not been notified by the court of the charges against his client.

He has said that Fritzl may plead diminished responsibility.

AFP