Duisburg, Germany (dpa) – A couple appeared in a German court Friday accused of keeping the woman's young son in a basement prison. The then seven-year-old boy was freed by police 18 months ago from what they said was the cold, dark basement of the family's home in the small west German town of Hamminkeln. They said he was naked, malnourished and terrified when freed following a tip-off from a neighbor. He was also suffering from a lack of sunlight. According to the indictment, the boy was repeatedly forced by his 28-year-old mother and 29-year-old stepfather to stay in the basement between 2009 and 2010. The mother and stepfather had left the boy alone in the basement and set off with his younger half-siblings on a trip to the Netherlands. The boy now lives with his biological father and is receiving psychological help. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/lNlTr Tags: abuse, Boy, Child, Germany, Imprison Section: Europe
