London, May 10 (ANI): Cellar monster Josef Fritzl is likely to be charged with murder- and may spend the rest of his life behind bars.

Prosecutors want the sex beast to be punished for allowing a tot he fathered with daughter Elisabeth to die in his cellar.

The 73-year-old who appeared in court for the first time since his arrest last month - was told he is also likely to face kidnap, neglect and rape charges.

The electrical engineer, who was not handcuffed and wore casual clothes, said nothing during the closed hearing in St Poelten, Austria.

If convicted of murder for failing to seek medical help for the three-day-old infant, Fritzl would face a life sentence.

The fiend - who fathered seven kids by Elisabeth during her 24-year cellar nightmare - burnt the body of the infant in a furnace.

"Murder carries a life sentence and in Austria, life means life. He would spend the rest of his life behind bars," The Sun quoted state prosecutor's spokesman Gerhard Sedlacek, as saying on May 9.

Previously it was thought Fritzl could only be hit with a maximum sentence of 20 years. He will remain in jail until the next court hearing, due in a month. (ANI)