SANKT POELTEN (Austria) - JOSEF Fritzl, the Austrian accused of imprisoning his daughter and fathering seven children with her, stunned his court trial on Wednesday by changing his plea to guilty on all charges.

Although Fritzl could yet avoid a life sentence, a psychiatrist told the court that the 73-year-old should be placed in a psychiatric facility as he regarded himself as having been 'born to rape'.

The defendant, who had tried to hide from photographers and TV cameras earlier this week, made a tearful confession, saying: 'I plead guilty to the crimes I've been charged with. I'm sorry.'

Media reports that Elisabeth had been smuggled into court the day before and speculation that a face-to-face confrontation with her may have triggered Fritzl's U-turn were fuelled by his own lawyer.

'If some of the victims were present (in court) yesterday, that certainly must have had a strong trigger effect,' said Rudolf Mayer. A court spokesman would not confirm Elisabeth's presence at the closed-door session on Tuesday.

The retired electrical engineer had pleaded guilty to incest, rape and sequestration on Monday but initially denied enslavement and murder, for which he faces a life prison term. Under Austrian law, the final sentence is softened in the event of a confession.

Despite Fritzl's guilty pleas, the jury will nevertheless have to decide whether to convict him and on what charges. A verdict is expected on Thursday.

Asked by the judge what caused him to change his plea, Fritzl replied: 'My daughter's videotaped testimony.' Fritzl had to watch Elisabeth's testimony on Monday and Tuesday and was questioned about his treatment of her.

Elisabeth Fritzl, now 42, and her children have sought refuge in a specialist clinic during the trial to avoid publicity. Authorities are attempting to give them a new start in life under a new identity. -- AFP