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06. 08. 10. - 15:00

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06. 08. 10. - 15:00

Kampusch fled over soup, kidnapper's best mate claims

Cellar girl Natascha Kampusch fled from her kidnapper following a "trivial argument" over how best to prepare a soup, according to Wolfgang Priklopil’s former best friend.

Austrian magazine News revealed today (Fri) that Ernst Holzapfel told investigators – who interviewed him over claims he assisted Priklopil in kidnapping and jailing Kampusch – last November: "Wolfgang told me that she dashed out of the house after a banal row over how to cook a zucchini soup."

Holzapfel faces a trial over accusations he obstructed police work for not helping to save Priklopil's life on the day Kampusch managed to escape his clutches in 2006.

Holzapfel initially claimed Priklopil had never told him about the eight-year kidnapping. He however later admitted his sick mate had poured out his heart about the kidnapping on 23 August 2006, the day Kampusch fled from his house in Strasshof an der Nordbahn in Lower Austria.

Holzapfel explained Priklopil initially claimed he was on the run from police after speeding off during a random traffic check before revealing his crimes as they met in Vienna.

Weekly magazine News claims Holzapfel told detectives Priklopil planned to introduce Kampusch – who was 10 when he snatched her from the street on her way to school in 1998 – as a Czech woman he got to know to "officially marry" her.

"He called her ‘Bibi’ and loved her like mad," Holzapfel said speaking about their meeting hours before Priklopil hurled himself in front of a train in Vienna-Donaustadt.

"Priklopil was sure Natascha loved him too," the Vienna-based entrepreneur told police last year, according to News.

Holzapfel said Priklopil hoped to convince Kampusch to return after their trivial "soup row". "Wolfi scoured the vicinity with his car for her. But he knew it was all over when he spotted her speaking to neighbours," Holzapfel is quoted as saying.

News further reveals Priklopil decided to kidnap an "untouched girl" after realising he might never have a girlfriend.

"Wolfi blamed his crooked nose for his lack of success with women," Holzapfel told police according to today’s article in News. The report also reveals that Priklopil considered plastic surgery – before ditching such plans due to such operations’ high costs and over worries he might still not find a woman.

The trial against Holzapfel gets underway in Vienna on 30 August. He faces up to two years in jail if found guilty of assisting Priklopil escaping justice.

Kampusch lives in Vienna today. The 21-year-old recently publicly backed animal rights organisation PETA and revealed she was currently writing her autobiography "3096 Tage" (3,096 Days) – the exact time span she was held by Priklopil – set for a release in September.

German producer Bernd Eichinger – whose movie "Der Untergang" (Downfall) about the last days of Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler caused controversy six years ago – said he had her plans of turning Kampusch’s life into a film and had her support.

Kate Winslet’s agent recently rubbished reports that the Academy Award winner will play Kampusch in the flick set to hit the screens in 2012.

Austrian Times

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