AUSTRIA: Psychologist reads statement of escaped kidnap victim, Natascha Kampusch

Psychologist Dr Max Freidrich read the statement of escaped kidnap victim Natascha Kampusch at a Vienna news conference on Monday (August 28). Kampusch, who fled from an eight-year hostage ordeal last week, said in her first public statement that she mourned the death of her captor, Wolfgang Priklopil, because he was part of her life. The 44-year-old communications technician threw himself under a train shortly after Kampusch's escape. "In my view his death was unnecessary. He was a part of my life and that is why I am mourning him. But it is not the end of the world. It is true that my youth was different from that of others but I was also spared a lot of things. I did not start smoking or drinking and I did not hang out in bad company," the statement said. In 1998, Priklopil abducted the then 10-year old on her way to school and locked her up in a small and windowless cell hidden beneath his garage in Strasshof, a hamlet 25 km (15 miles) outside the capital Vienna and about 10 km from her home. Countering police reports that 18-year-old Kampusch had been forced to address Priklopil as "master", she claimed that they were equals and described their daily life together as "normal". "Regarding our daily life, it was a normal daily life. We usually had breakfast together since he rarely went to work. It (daily life) consisted of household work, reading, watching TV, talking and cooking. This is what happened for years. Everything was connected with the fear of loneliness. Regarding the relationship, he was not my master, I was equally strong. But symbolically speaking, he carried me with his hands but kicked me with his feet. However, he knew and I knew that he was interfering with the wrong person," said Dr Freidrich, reading from the statement. Kampusch also described her recent dash to freedom on Wednesday (August 23) when Priklopil took a phone call while she was vacuuming his sports coupe. "Regarding my escape. When I was told to wash and vacuum the car, he walked away during the noise of the vacuum cleaner. This was my opportunity. I just left the vacuum cleaner running," the statement said. Priklopil had been questioned by police soon after Kampusch's disappearance, just like hundreds of owners of white vans similar to the one a schoolfriend had seen Kampusch get into the day she vanished. The hunt for the teenager had never been dropped. Sightings had been reported in Hungary, divers searched ponds and police flew over the region with infrared cameras. Experts have said Kampusch is suffering from "Stockholm Syndrome" -- a psychological condition in which long-held captives begin to identify with their captors. Her psychiatrist said that the ordeal had left her with deep psychological scars, but that she was also a mature woman. She is currently living in a secret location and being cared for by a psychiatrist and police workers. Kampusch requested that she be left alone by the media for the time being.

ITN Source | August 28, 2006

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